Orano - Annual Activity Report 2024 76 3 RISKS, CONTROL AND DUTY OF VIGILANCE PLAN Risk factors In addition, the group is exposed to industrial risks such as: ● risks related to the handling and use of lifting, transfer and positioning equipment; ● risk of fire and implosion; ● risks related to the use of toxic chemicals or raw materials such as hydrofluoric acid (HF); ● risks related to the use of pressurized equipment; ● risks related to facilities (electricity, water, steam, industrial gases). Any serious event related to the group’s nuclear activities, having a potential or proven impact on the population, the environment or a region, could lead to a significant increase in the operating constraints of the group’s industrial sites, or even to a partial or total interruption of the group’s nuclear operations. Such an event could also have a significant negative impact on the health of employees, on the group’s financial and legal position as well as on its reputation. Finally, the group is exposed to external risks such as: ● the crash of an aircraft or part of an aircraft onto one or more of the group’s facilities; ● an earthquake and its possible repercussions; ● climate change, which can lead to adverse weather conditions and flooding; and ● power outages. This also concerns the risk of accidents during the transport of radioactive or nuclear materials as well as the risk of malicious attacks such as terrorist attacks that could have serious consequences on the environment. The occurrence of one of these risks of external origin may have an unfavorable impact on the group’s business, its financial and legal position, as well as a strong negative impact on its reputation. Risk management measures The Nuclear and Industrial Safety – Health – Occupational Safety – Radiation protection – Environment policy covering the period 2024-2026 marks the group’s commitment to the priority of managing the risks and impacts of its facilities and activities, as part of an overall approach to risk management relating to radiation protection, health and safety at work. It is based on a set of commitments to achieve the highest standards of safety and environmental protection. It is part of the group’s continuous improvement approach based on feedback. The group implements prevention and mitigation actions against the risks of nuclear or industrial accidents that could impact protected interests as defined in Article L. 593-1 of the French Environmental Code. The various conventional industrial risks (fire, hazardous substances, etc.) are subject to prevention measures adapted to their nature and in application of the regulations defined in each technical field, as for risks of nuclear origin. The actions taken and measures implemented by the group to prevent major risks are detailed in the duty of vigilance plan in Section 3.4. Furthermore, faced with the risk of malicious acts, specific and regulatory measures are taken to protect nuclear facilities and shipping from such acts, measures that are also strengthened under national security plans (such as the French “Vigipirate” plan). For security reasons, these measures may not be disclosed to the public. Orano has a robust crisis management system to manage emergency situations relating to the safety of the facilities, as well as their security, the health of employees and of the public and the environment. This system is described in Section 3.4.2.2 and in Section 4.3.3.2 of the 2024 Annual Activity Report. 3.3.3.2 Risks related to the group’s transformation and human resources Description of the risk As the nuclear industry relaunch, recruitment issues across the industry are essential to meet demand and ensure the renewal of critical skills. At the same time, the group must adopt an appropriate social policy to preserve its appeal, meet the aspirations of new generations, particularly in terms of the environment, climate and well-being at work, and guarantee the retention of essential key skills. In 2024, the group recruited nearly 1,930 people on permanent contracts and trained around 960 work-study students/interns, an essential source for the future of the nuclear industry. If the group fails to guarantee the retention of the key skills necessary for its transformation, or if it loses its appeal, this could negatively affect its financial position, its operating activities, the development of new projects and its reputation. Risk management measures To meet these priorities, the group has implemented several actions to attract, integrate, train and retain new employees. They are based on a global approach around: ● an innovative communication strategy to increase its appeal; ● a local recruitment policy; ● tighter steering of skills; ● expanding and digitizing our training offerings, notably through our vocational schools and management school; ● steering managerial transformation; ● support for talents; ● career development of its employees; and ● the renewal of its area of expertise in conjunction with the other major players in the nuclear sector (EDF, CEA, etc.). Locally, the group continues to set up vocational schools (inauguration of one in Melox in 2024) to ensure skills maintenance and target specific training needs related to production plants.
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