NUCLEAR CODE OF ETHICS
(Part 2)

5. Ethics, a global awareness

The initiative of the World Council of Nuclear Workers is part of an approach initiated by many specialized agencies of the United Nations.

In addition to the permanent action of the IAEA to promote the safety culture, many initiatives towards this optimization of the citizenship of the companies have been launched, including the "European Union's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme" (EMAS) initiated by the European Union, the "Quality Management and Environmental Management Systems Standards" initiated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the "Voluntary Initiatives Affecting Training and Education on Safety Health and Environment in the Chemical Industries" initiated by the International Labour Office of the United Nations in Geneva.

The initiative of the International Labour Office represents a significant and laudable advance, since in the opening sentences, in the very titles of its different working documents, it introduces notions of "safety" and "public health" alongside the notion of environment. By stipulating that these initiatives address education and training, the ILO actually goes much further: this body identifies the key player in the safety of the industrial installations, the human factor, and implicitly proposes solutions: actions for education and training.

The necessary optimization of these approaches, regardless of their qualities, implies the consideration of the human factor as the essential key to achieve excellence in all areas, whether related to safety, or even to competitiveness, profitability, environmental protection, and the societal elevation of all the workers of the nuclear industries.

6. A proactive, responsible and universal code of ethics

The aim of this code of ethics is to encourage the deliberate and goal-oriented adoption of a behavior and of practices designed to optimize the operating conditions of the nuclear installations, heedful of public health and the environment. As the vector of a code of ethics specific to the nuclear industry, adhesion to this code of ethics should be strictly voluntary: force, the mother of fraud, cannot possibly provide an answer that is fully satisfactory. This code of ethics is therefore the fruit of a commitment freely given by the women and men of the nuclear industry, their companies and the organizations devoted to the peaceful use of the nuclear industry. It is in this voluntary engagement that all will find and prove their value in light of the obligations imposed on their profession.

The code of ethics addresses concrete objectives, conforming to the general interest, which it is plausible to try to achieve, in view of the socioeconomic conditions, the possibilities of science, the feasibility and reliability of the techniques involved. It represents a practical means to guide the conduct of the players of the nuclear industry towards the search for patriotic excellence. Its formulation must therefore be sufficiently attractive to provide it with incentive, avoiding the dual pitfall of a statement of moral principles without any particular value in terms of their practical applications, or a catalogue of restrictive legal arguments already enshrined in the provisions of positive law! Finally, despite the variety that characterizes human society at this turn of the century, the code of ethics of the nuclear industry must strive towards universal scope, even if the socio-cultural framework specific to each country must be taken into account.

7. A code of ethics also implicating the authorities

The authorities responsible for establishing the regulatory foundations and for the rational and transparent implementation of the regulations are also concerned by this progress-oriented engagement. The authorities must consider themselves as the employer of employers and, in this respect, assume the responsibilities accordingly. It is in fact the authorities who determine the forms of the socioeconomic system in which the processes of work are played out. It is the authorities who strictly regulate entrepreneurial activity and the behavior of direct employers, the entrepreneurs, by a body of rules, regulations and laws, by targeted taxation of investment options, by the definition of a labor code, by the respect of a fundamental right, the freedom to act.

8. The role of the international nuclear organizations

The dissemination and sharing of knowledge in the field of nuclear energy are achieved through the international organizations progressively set up after the Second World War, like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, 1960), Euratom, WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators, 1989), UNSCEAR, WONUC (World Council of Nuclear Workers, 1996), WENRA, etc. these international bodies play an unavoidable role in the safe and efficient development of nuclear energy for the benefit of humanity, by making it a model for the other branches of human activity. The scale of the challenges concerned has naturally led to the reinforcement of the action of the international bodies. Beyond the legitimate competition existing between the different operators of the world nuclear industry, these transnational challenges demand a plethora of exchanges of communications between these players, so that the feedback is fully exploited by all the members of the international nuclear community. These challenges militate against any policy of secrecy and imply transparency, even and above all when it concerns the failures and more generally the management of technological and human systems. They do not condemn competition, but far to the contrary, are a prerequisite for its maintenance, highlighting the importance of the objective solidarity that must exist between the "nuclear artisans" of all countries, illustrating the fact that the advances of science entail the progress of conscience.

The activities of a nuclear sector are thus subject to international conventions, laws and regulations, governmental decisions, which are highly restrictive and rightly aimed to eliminate the risks associated with this activity. These arrangements are largely influenced by the solidarity of the partners of WANO, namely all the world's nuclear power plant operators, and by the recommendations of reputable international organizations like the IAEA, UNSCEAR, ILO, OECD, ICRP and WENRA. Some of the provisions in these texts primarily concern the action of the State (government, administrative authorities, Parliaments, etc.). Others are directly aimed at the nuclear industry. They all obey the same concerns as this code of ethics. Thus it is perfectly normal for the statement of this engagement to exhibit some similarity and overlaps with the legal and goal-oriented standards issued by the States and intergovernmental bodies. Such overlaps obviously constitute no drawback insofar as the political authorities are themselves inspired by the same concerns for the general interest.

Another role of the international bodies like the IAEA is to teach the countries who so desire to produce and use nuclear energy. No doubt it is under their control that the development of nuclear energy could be organized in the developing countries, which have a pressing need to desalinate seawater. Everything lacking in the country should be provided by the international community, with a guarantee of maintenance over the years, in conditions similar to treaties, to be improvised.

9. What structure for the nuclear code of ethics?

9.1. For the nuclear industry, a code of ethics cannot be conceived merely as a set of "moral" rules. In fact, morality, whether we strive to give it universal scope, or whether it stems from a philosophy, a religion or a particular civilization, is ultimately aimed at a certain ideal of good to which man's conduct should tend. But it is not sufficient for the engineer, the technician or the scientist to respect the values of common morality or of their personal morality in the accomplishment of their tasks. The uses of nuclear energy, like all other human activities, demand specific precautions relevant to a professional behavior fully aware of the consequences that negligence, errors or abuses could have.

The code of ethics is inspired by values that belong to the field of ethics because their aim is to encourage man's control of a particular metatechnology, to encourage man to exploit it in full knowledge of the facts, to regulate the use of resources, to improve the protection against the risks associated with its implementation, and to promote its use for the common good. This code of ethics is based on value systems that are not simply of a moral order, as for example, compliance with regulations, or respect for scientific method: the application of the best state of the art in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installations, the demand for a high level of professional qualifications, the analysis of the social cost-benefit ratio to justify the technical alternatives to be selected, etc.

9.2. A distinction must be drawn between this code of ethics and positive law. The code of ethics is the fruit of a voluntary commitment and therefore cannot be confused with the complex body of scientific data, standards and technical specifications, incorporated or not in the regulations, which characterizes a "technical system3". It has a more general scope because it aims at the proper use of science and technology. The pursuit of this objective implies a number of judgments on methods and practices related to technoscience, and hence an enlightened knowledge thereof, without this code of ethics being subordinated to the ends and limitations of technoscience.

9.3. This code of ethics has a common purpose with conventional morality and positive law: the control of technoscience for the promotion and protection of the higher interests of man and society. Together they translate the moral and legal requirements into a form appropriate to professional realities. The absence of formalism and the voluntary aspects underlying its adoption and implementation, in other words, its ease of adaptation to the complex and changing realities of technical progress, offer the advantage of setting the stage for more flexible and speedy possibilities of action, as a function of concrete situations, their developments and the new needs they engender.

This code of ethics relative to nuclear energy must be conceived as a body of incentive recommendations, inspired by experience, the spirit of innovation and the sense of responsibility. Its ultimate aim is to contribute to the level of quality, safety and reliability desirable in the application of nuclear energy in the service of the general interest.

The code of ethics of the civil nuclear industry is designed to influence the behavior, the state of mind, the decisions of the players in the civil nuclear sector, in harmony with the international agreements and regulations applicable to it, in order to optimize the efficiency, quality and safety of the invention installations, the security of the property and individuals working in these nuclear installations and living around them, and the quality of the biotopes surrounding these installations. Insofar as public opinion finds that its concerns are addressed and satisfied in and by this code of ethics, it will favorably influence the acceptance and support of the public for nuclear energy.

10. Guidelines

10.1. The advocates of the code of ethics recognize that nuclear energy, by significantly contributing to the energy supply of the planet, participates in the establishment and the implementation of a sustainable development, synonymous with peace, economic growth whose fruits can be shared by all, the creation of jobs, the preservation of natural resources and environmental conservation. They emphasize the fact that nuclear energy does not contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, that it does not generate gases causing acid rain, that it does not emit particles of heavy metals, whose harmful effects on public health will persevere without any limitation in time or intensity.

The advocates of the code of ethics of the world nuclear industry recall that the work and research conducted in the vast field of the genetic sciences and techniques of nuclear energy are decisive contributions to the wellbeing of present and future generations.

10.2.The advocates of this code of ethics declare that:

1. The search for security of nuclear installations has priority over the search for financial and commercial profitability.
2. Workers and workers' representatives are concerned with the continuous improvement of safety management.
3. Beyond an objective, transparency must be understood as a systematic attitude which serves to dissipate the many misunderstandings that have bedeviled nuclear energy.
4. The pursuit of research and development in the nuclear field is and remains a priority for the authorities and for the managers of the nuclear industry.
5. The total cost of energy in general, the cost of nuclear energy in particular, must be comprehensive, hence integrate a social component and an ecological component, taking account, for example, of the future cost of climatic upheavals.
6. The working environment, specifically including the remuneration due to the nuclear workers, must not be detrimental nor tend to reduce the incentive for a safety culture, because a fair working environment is basic to this code of ethics.
7. The optimization of working conditions designed to minimize human failures detrimental to the safety of the installations, environmental protection and health of the workers and the public, implies the recognition of an international status of the nuclear workers and the application of an international collective convention for nuclear workers, incorporating the optimal management of the doses of ionizing radiation received during the exercise of their professional activity.
8. Continuing education of the personnel working in nuclear installations, the raising of their level of technical skills, are the guarantees of a high level of safety and reliability of the nuclear installations.
9. The continuous improvement of safety management systems with emphasis on the evaluation of process controls.
10. The development of a general safety culture including all the persons concerned by the applications of the civil nuclear industry is necessary to achieve a high level of safety of the nuclear installations.
11. The excellence of a social dialogue, its quality and its permanence are the best guarantee of the high level of safety of nuclear installations, so that the managers of the world nuclear industry must take all necessary measures to achieve these objectives, particularly by providing the representative organizations of the personnel of the nuclear industry with the necessary resources for the accomplishment of their mission, and guaranteeing them that the performance of these missions will not be subject to any discriminating action or attitude.

10.3 The operators of nuclear installations assume primary responsibility of the safety of their installations.

The operators of nuclear installations recognize that top priority must be assigned to maintaining a high level of safety for all the uses of nuclear energy, including the transport of radioactive materials, and particularly:

1. in the policies followed for the protection of the workers, the public and the natural environment against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation;
2. for the prevention of always possible incidents and accidents, and the alleviation of their consequences;
3. in the arrangements pertaining to the design, construction and operation of the nuclear installations;
4. in the protection of the environment.

They reaffirm that their safety policy conforms to the objectives and basic principles of the Convention on nuclear safety established by the IAEA.

10.4. The teaching of the regulations, operating rules and maintenance rules of the installations is of fundamental importance. Beyond basic vocational education, training must also address the potential implications of non-observance of its specifications. This knowledge is acquired during initial training and is then constantly renewed. This training is the essential factor in the awareness of the exercise of individual and collective responsibilities. It is not exclusively directed at technical objectives, but also towards the development of skills and the acquisition of knowledge, to permit the responsible and complete resolution of technical and organizational problems which necessarily arise in the complexity of a whole, whereof no part can be ignored.

10.5. The exposure doses of the nuclear workers and the public to ionizing radiation produced in the operation of the nuclear installations must in no case be higher than the threshold above which they would incur a risk to human health. The emissions of gases and liquid effluents must never be the cause of a level of ionizing radiation that could induce harmful effects for the health of the workers of the nuclear industry, for the persons living in the neighborhood of the nuclear installations, and in general, for the public at large. These emissions must never be the cause of damage for the biotopes. They must therefore be limited to a fraction of the ambient natural radioactivity, so that the combined effects of the ambient radioactivity and this radioactivity artificially created by the nuclear installations cannot be detrimental to human health and to the biotopes.

10.6. The design of nuclear installations comprises several protective barriers against the accidental emission of materials detrimental to public health. Measures taken to prevent incidents and accidents and those taken to minimize their repercussions, rely on the safest and most effective techniques developed to date.

10.7. Recognizing that nuclear energy has a decisive role in the definition and implementation of a policy of sustainable development, projects relative to the uses of nuclear energy take due consideration of the ecological aspects, the economic use of natural resources, and their repercussions on the environment and the safeguarding of the biotopes. They take account of the sociological aspects, their impacts on the preservation of the terms of employment and the creation of qualifying jobs, on the increase of local, regional and transnational wealth. They take account of national energy independence. They also take account of their impact on the trade balances and balances of payments, and the optimization of the future management of permits to pollute.

10.8. The management of the wastes and by-products of nuclear energy must be inspired by precepts deriving from the implementation of a world policy to preserve natural resources based on the systematic generalization of recycling. The volume and activity of the ultimate unusable wastes must therefore be reduced as much as reasonably possible, with the ultimate aim of negligible impact on man on the short and medium term. The management of the wastes and by-products should be inspired by natural models of which examples abound.

10.9. The managers of the nuclear industry actively participate in the clear and objective information of the public about the design and optimization of the nuclear installations, on the benefits they provide, and on the risks they incur, as well as the relevant protection and safety measures. To do this, they can rely in particular on the representative organizations of the personnel of the nuclear installations.

10.10. In a spirit of cooperation, particularly internationally, to enhance the general level of safety of nuclear installations, to optimize the wellbeing and dignity of the persons working in the nuclear installations, to promote and develop the many benefits that humanity can derive from the civil exploitation of nuclear energy, to promote the advance of the body of generic sciences and techniques of nuclear energy, the managers of the world nuclear industry and the international bodies who have adhered to this code of ethics, thereby demonstrate a moral solidarity.