Transport: the industry’s most sensitive link A risk management approach

AREVA, world leader in the nuclear field, is involved in all sectors of the industry and has strategically organized its assets in order to provide power reactors with integrated services. As such, AREVA soon recognized that the transport activity is a fully integrated part of the delivered product. Consequently, stringent quality requirements applying to products and management equally apply to transport activities. Transport and logistics is considered to be a vital link between the various sectors of the industry, from mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, fuel management and recycling. Yet, transport being an international activity, media sensitive, relying upon multi-disciplinary operations and expertise, and being performed within the public domain, transport is also considered to be one of the industry’s most sensitive links. This paper will review how AREVA has applied risk management practices to its vital transport activities and how it is being used on a day to day basis to conduct operational and strategic transport related decisions. Four pillars, supported by a specifically designed information system, compose the methodology which has now been implemented within the company during the last four years: 1- Control of Sub-contractors’ Chain of Transports 2- Risk Analysis and Risk Management 3- Studies and Support 4- Emergency preparedness and response By reviewing the last four years of experience in this field, the paper will demonstrate that applying risk management practices to transport activities benefits the company, as well as the industry, as it contributes to improve security, image, and overall performance.