Quality assurance: is it enough?

Since 1970, every applicant for a construction permit to build a nuclear power station in the US has been obliged by Federal Regulations to adopt a formal system of QA (quality assurance) for all stages from design to commissioning and operation. Most of those countries which have introduced nuclear power have followed the US lead and many of the international codes and standards are based on those developed by the US. The requirements for formal QA have recently been introduced in the UK in the conditions attached to a site licence. It is therefore an appropriate time to take stock of the position and outline some of the aspects of QA which have to be treated with caution and vigilance, especially as the whole fabric of the US nuclear regulatory system is under severe criticism by the Kemeny Commission, which rightly points out that safety is not brought about just by the `the meeting of narrowly prescribed and complex regulations¿¿