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Nuclear risks rise for French workers

French nuclear workers see risks as conditions worsen

* EDF subcontracts 80 percent of nuclear maintenance

* Nuclear workers say they are under mounting time pressure

* Safety margin is narrowing, expert says

* EDF denies it cuts corners, says subcontracts by choice

Forbes Reuters FEATUREBy Muriel Boselli

PIERRELATTE, France, Aug 31 (Reuters) – Worsening working conditions, inadequate pay rises, pressure to work faster and safety concerns — these are the familiar grievances of a disaffected work force.

When such complaints arise in France’s most sensitive industry — nuclear power — alarm bells start ringing.

Cyril Bouche and his colleagues at the Tricastin nuclear plant in the rolling hills of the Drome region say the state-owned utility EDF, which runs France’s 58 nuclear reactors and has been expanding into the United States and Britain, is not only cutting costs, but also cutting corners.

The 39-year old, who works for one of EDF’s many subcontracting firms, says working conditions at the plant — hit by a series of incidents that shook public trust in 2008 — have deteriorated over the past five to 10 years.

“Today France is selling reactors abroad but it should first put its own house in order,” said Bouche, the only one of 10 workers interviewed by Reuters who was prepared to be identified.

The French government has put forward state ownership of its nuclear sector as a guarantee of its safety, but former monopoly EDF subcontracts 80 percent of the maintenance at its nuclear reactors to firms such as Vinci, Areva ( ARVCF.PK – news – people ), GDF Suez or Bouygues ( BOUYF.PK – news – people )………….

Independent experts including Yves Marignac, executive director of the information agency Wise-Paris, say safety margins in French nuclear power plants are shrinking as plants age, economic pressure mounts and trained staff retire.

FEATURE-French nuclear workers see risks as conditions worsen – Forbes.com

August 31, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, France, safety | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear costs, radioactive