What On-site Inspectors Under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Can Learn from The “Co-expertise Process” Experiences Implemented After the Chernobyl and Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accidents?

In the event of an on-site inspection (OSI) under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), inspectors and support staffs of the inspected state party may encounter situations presenting similarities to those resulting from past radiation emergencies. The Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plant accidents have shown that the so-called “co-expertise” process recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is an effective lever for empowering the affected populations so that they can take informed decisions concerning their own protection. After a reminder of the constituent elements of the co-expertise approach as well as the context of the CTBT inspections the article describes how some key elements of the co-expertise process could be incorporated in the training program of the surrogate on-site inspectors and inspection teams to address possible concerns regarding the consequences ofradiological contamination if present.