Orano - Annual Activity Report 2024 85 RISKS, CONTROL AND DUTY OF VIGILANCE PLAN 3 Duty of vigilance plan Prevention of psychosocial risks The agreement on the development of quality of life at work and the consideration of psychosocial risks within the Orano group, signed in 2021, reaffirms the principles outlined in previous agreements since 2012. This agreement is structured around eight main themes: organization of work, labor relations, physical environment, end-of-career arrangements, prevention of risks and hardship, consideration of organizational changes, workplace/ residence mobility and personal and professional life balance. It also recognizes the status of caregivers and has introduced leave donations between group employees. In compliance with all scientific and regulatory recommendations concerning psychosocial risks, Orano deploys a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and participatory prevention approach, covering the three aspects of prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary) which applies to all employees, managers and the organization of its establishments in France. Taking this approach into account involves using the deployment of measures to prevent risks to psychological health at work, of which the prevention of sexist behavior and actions is an integral part. The assessment of risks related to the organization of work and its transcription in the DUER (Document unique d’évaluation des risques professionnels, or single document for the assessment of occupational risks) is deployed in all the Group’s entities in France. Surveys on living conditions and health at work are requested from the entities on emerging issues and significant organizational changes are subject to an analysis of the human impact of the change, shared with staff representatives. Managers benefit from the development of their knowledge and skills in psychosocial risk prevention through the available training. A listening and support system, based on access to psychological consultations, is available to all employees in difficulty. For international sites, the regulations or standards for the prevention of psychosocial risks specific to each country are applied. Access for international employees to counseling and psychological support takes different forms depending on the countries where they operate. Work is underway so that small entities can also benefit from it. In addition, the group is implementing strengthened health actions and increased vigilance on the quality of life at work, particularly in terms of prevention of psychosocial risks (see Section 4.3.2 of this report). It ensures (i) the ongoing deployment of the group’s occupational health service in France, (ii) that specific issues associated with expatriation are taken into account, and (iii) the medical monitoring of local employees in international sites. Health Observatory in Niger In 2012, the group set up the Health Observatory (The Health Observatory of the Region of Agadez (OSRA)) whose mission is to ensure post-professional monitoring of former Somaïr and Cominak employees who might have been exposed to ionizing radiation at work. It is a transparent and independent initiative ran on a multi-party basis (involving mining companies, the State and civil society in Niger). If occupational diseases caused by exposure to ionizing radiation were detected, care would be provided by the appropriate national entity or, failing that, by the Health Observatory. Medical check-ups as part of this post-professional monitoring are organized every two years: they include an appointment with a doctor, a clinical examination, chest X-rays and blood tests. These check-ups are provided by independent physicians assigned to work for the Observatory. In 2024, 479 check-ups were carried out and represent the sixth phase of post-professional monitoring. They covered the regions of Arlit, Agadez, Tahoua, Niamey and Tillaberi. In total, since its creation in 2012 and up until the end of November 2024(1), 7,209 post-professional monitoring check-ups have been performed for former employees of Somaïr and Cominak, and no occupational diseases linked to exposure to ionizing radiation have been recognized by the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) of Niger among former workers of Somaïr and Cominak. Former Cominak employees continued to benefit from this postprofessional medical follow-up even after production activities stopped at the site. Prevention of the risk of radiological contamination or significant irradiation Uncontrolled exposure to radiation or radioactive substances can have consequences on the health of employees and contractors. The group implements several measures and protocols to protect all its employees and those of external companies against the risk of exposure to radioactivity. These measures include in particular: ● measures to prevent and protect against radiation: reducing radiation exposure is built into the design of Orano’s facilities. Specific measures are taken in designated radiation areas to maintain the most radiologically clean work environment and to protect workers from radiation emitted in the facilities; ● dosimetric monitoring and personnel monitoring: Orano’s employees as well as external contractors are subject to dosimetric monitoring appropriate to the type of exposure. Radiation protection measures and personnel monitoring levels are uniformly applied to all exposed workers, in accordance with the principle of fairness, which aims to ensure an equitable distribution of individual doses to minimize dosimetric differences between workers. In order to limit as much as possible the dose received by workers in the designated radiation areas, an in-depth study of the working conditions and an assessment of the anticipated doses is carried out before the operation. This makes it possible to adapt the exposure duration, to use protective screens and to consider the physiological constraints from wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE) and the heat; and ● control the dosimetry: particular attention is given to situations likely to generate effective doses exceeding the internal alert criterion of 14 millisieverts (mSv). The HSE Policy 2024-2026 requires a systematic analysis of these situations, which then enables appropriate measures to be implemented in line with the facility’s activities, in application of the radiation protection optimization principle (ALARA approach). (1) The group confirmed the loss of operational control over its subsidiaries in Niger in December 2024. For more information on the situation in Niger, see Section 2.1.2.1.
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