Addressing training needs of security and safeguards implementation officers at nuclear facilities

Vidaurre, J.; Noro, Naoko; Matsuzawa, Reina; Miyaji, Noriko 

Officers at nuclear facilities have substantial responsibilities in the management of nuclear materials: They have to assure that nuclear material is properly controlled and accounted for; they need to detect and deter unauthorized access and removal of nuclear material and protect it from an insider or an outsider threat. At the same time, they need to comply with their State's commitments on nuclear nonproliferation that uses nuclear material accountancy as a fundamental verification measure. To perform such a variety of tasks, facility officers responsible for safeguards and security require a set of Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes commensurate with their responsibilities and tasks. To address this needs, the IAEA and its Member States have conducted a series of training courses, the vast majority of which were targeted to regulatory authorities on safeguards or nuclear material accountancy topics. There are few courses dedicated to facility officers or operators addressing holistically their security and safeguards requirements. This paper analyses the evolution of training courses for authorities and facility personnel in a changing environment from nuclear nonproliferation focused-era to the current broader approach encompassing safeguards and security. Then it recalls some conceptual developments of the recent past and attempts to justify a change in direction on the focus of Member State's training. Finally, it brings some specific proposals towards strengthening and increasing security and safeguards training in Nuclear Material Accountancy and Control relevant to the tasks and responsibilities of safeguards and security practitioners at the facility level.