On April 8, 2026, the third session of the “Emergency Management” module of the CAS “Nuclear Energy Work Environment” took place. Following a brief review of the first two days by Simon Rüegger (Axpo Group), Marek Cernoch (Axpo Group) introduced the topic of “Emergency Preparedness at Nuclear Facilities.” ⚛️
The focus was on key design and safety principles for nuclear facilities, including:
🔹 The principle of multiple layers of defense ("Defense in Depth")
🔹 Redundancy and diversity of safety-critical systems
🔹 Fault tolerance and independence of safety systems
🔹 Incident Management and Emergency Preparedness
🔹 Aging management and safety demonstrations
Particularly impressive was the concept of “defense in depth”—a multi-layered safety approach involving several independent levels, which has been continuously refined and optimized since the first nuclear power plants were built.
Equally important are the four fundamental protection goals:
✔️ Controlling the chain reaction
✔️ Cooling of the fuel elements
✔️ Containment of radioactivity
✔️ Protection against radiation
Another key focus was the emergency response plan for nuclear facilities. This highlighted the close cooperation between the federal government, the cantons, ENSI, and the nuclear power plants to ensure the highest safety standards at all times. 🤝
Safety isn't just about prevention; it also involves regular practice and keeping up with new developments. 🔍
Many thanks to the speakers for their fascinating insights and practical discussions—and to the staff at Switzerland’s nuclear power plants for their daily efforts to ensure a safe and low-emission electricity supply! 🙌
🔎 Further information about CAS:
CAS Working Environment Nuclear Energy | BFH
