The fact that the labs emergence specialising in radiochemistry coincided with the rise of nuclear power in Spain has enabled DRACE GEOCISA to participate and be present in all areas of action in the sector from the very beginning. This is the case with the low- and high activity radioactive-waste storage facility in Cabril (Cordoba), a project in which DRACE GEOCISA's involvement consisted of fine-tuning the package quality verification laboratory.
This laboratory's role is to assure compliance with the objectives for the surface storage of low- and medium-activity waste, on the one hand by isolating the waste from the environment and, on the other, by limiting its activity. These functions basically consist of physical, chemical and mechanical characterisation of the packages prior to their acceptance, and a set of subsequent checks to assure compliance with the criteria for identification, conditioning and limiting activity.
DRACE GEOCISA has been present at this facility since 1992, having initially been involved in the fine-tuning of methods and procedures and subsequently, and still today, in the operation of this laboratory, thanks to the corresponding contract being renewed every five years. Although this facility is permanently staffed, there is an undertaking to provide technical consulting and ongoing training from the central laboratory in Madrid, requiring us to constantly update the analytical methods and measurement techniques applied
The designation of the waste-quality verification laboratory as a controlled area means that our staff assigned to work there must meet the requirements for personnel exposed to ionising radiation, which has led use to understand and always apply the special measures that must be in place at a radiologically regulated laboratory.