Universal Registration Document 2020

3.3.1.1 Nuclear safety

The operational safety of nuclear facilities is taken into consideration from the initial design stage, and is regularly monitored, together with the implementation of an employee motivation policy and large-scale investment programmes. The Group’s nuclear safety policy is incorporated into training for both EDF employees and subcontractors. Nuclear safety is subject to internal controls (annual reviews, internal control plans and nuclear inspection audits in France) and external controls (peer reviews between corporate members of WANO⁽¹⁾ and OSART⁽²⁾ audits conducted by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)). In France, the safety of nuclear facilities is controlled by the ASN. In the UK, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is the independent safety regulator in the civil nuclear sector. It monitors compliance with safety rules, including for the transport of radioactive materials. The“EDF group Nuclear Safety” policy was redefined in 2017⁽³⁾.

Nuclear safety: Number of significant level-2 events on the INES scale

Key non-financial performance indicator

The methodology for this indicator is set out in detail in section 3.7.2.2 "Details on performance indicators".

3.3.1.2 Hydropower Safety

The average age of the French hydropower fleet is 75 years⁽⁴⁾. Hydropower safety aims to limit risks of structural failure, risks relating to the operation of facilities during times of flooding, as well as watercourse flow variations during operation Like the nuclear safety policy, the hydropower safety policy aims for a high level of safety and continuous improvement (see section 1.4.1.3.1.3 “Hydropower safety”).

3.3.1.3 Health and safety of employees and subcontractors

In an environment that is undergoing rapid, far reaching changes, the human aspect is more than ever a core component of the CAP 2030 strategic plan, itself a key factor in the Group’s performance. To tackle the industrial and commercial challenges it faces, EDF must remain a socially responsible and committed employer and a bench mark in terms of health.

3.3.1.3.1 Health and safety policy

The Group’s Health and Safety policy was adopted in April 2018 and is based on an undertaking signed by the Chairman and all members of the Executive Committee. It defines a common, consistent framework and all policies and action plans of the Group’s different subsidiaries must comply with the policy. This Group policy applies to all the companies controlled by the EDF group, in all the countries in which EDF operates, and concerns both its employees and its subcontractors’ employees working on its facilities and premises. This undertaking is accompanied by a roadmap that mobilises the Group’s entities to achieve the objectives set. The Executive Committee reviews health and safety figures and monitors action plans regularly. Since 2015, aStrategy Committee made up of executives appointed by the Executive Committee members has been overseeing the implementation of the policy and preparing decisions to be submitted to the Executive Committee.

The Group strives to set an example in the area of Health and Safety. The main priority is to eradicate fatal accidents, then reduce the number of accidents and combat absenteeism. This ambition and these priorities for the coming years are implemented in all the companies of the Group.

3.3.1.3.2 Eradicating fatal accidents

In 2020, continuing the initiatives started in 2015, the Group focused on 10 key rules, which were adopted following an analysis of fatal accidents in the EDF group over the last 30 years, which everyone must follow as they go about their work in order to avoid serious accidents and protect both themselves and those around them.

To maintain the safety culture and risk awareness, a collection of High PotentialEvents (HPE) has been arranged, more than half of which are near-accidents or dangerous situations. The analysis of the events is shared at the Group level, focusing on those related to the 10 key rules of the Group.

There were seven fatal accidents directly related to work in 2020⁽⁵⁾.

Number of fatal accidents connected to business-specific risks (employees and providers)

Key non-financial performance indicator

To tackle this problem, the Executive Committee has asked each business line to take action to improve the adoption of the key rules by all Group employees and providers and has also asked managers to emphasise the shared vigilance approach within their teams. As part of this, the Chairman decided to arrange a “STOP safety” throughout the Group. On 20 October 2020, all teams met to discuss their approach to safety issues. The meetings focused on compliance with the key rules and the problems encountered when applying the rules. They led to concrete action implemented within each team, to be monitored by Group HR.

The development of the Shared Vigilance approach, marking the individual commitment of each and every individual to a Company-wide safety culture, is key to making progress in the area of prevention. Employees are encouraged to follow e-learning courses developed by the Safety Academy. For example, in 2020, 18,459 EDF employees followed a training course on this subject, exceeding the 15,000 target set in the EDF profit-sharing agreement. These efforts supplemented the “Shared Vigilance” training course engaged over the last years, which was taken by 25,775 employees in 2018 and 2019.