The WPC is a non-executive national committee
Its focus is on criticality safety issues up to, but not including, experimental and in-core power reactor operations. The issues considered are relevant to fabrication, transportation, storage and other operations relating to nuclear materials (e.g. new build, enrichment, reprocessing, decommissioning and long-term waste management). In addition to operational criticality safety issues, the current areas and items of interest include those specified below.
Nuclear Science
Maintain and update criticality safety handbooks, databases and experimental data, supporting the development and validation of safety codes.
Safety Methodology
Review and coordinate UK input on criticality safety standards, international activities, and assessment methods, including data monitoring and consequence analysis.
Decommissioning
Develop strategies for the packaging, long-term management, and risk-informed decommissioning of intermediate-level waste (ILW).
Emergency Arrangements
Analyse and prevent criticality accidents through comprehensive emergency planning and evaluation of incident response criteria.
Professional Development
Provide training and accreditation for criticality assessors and operational staff, ensuring competence and standardisation.