- Site: Dounreay
- IR number: 19-005
- Date: April 2019
- LC numbers: 36
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of this visit was to undertake inspection activities at Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) in accordance with the 2019/20 Integrated Intervention Strategy (IIS) for Dounreay to confirm that the licensee is controlling its hazards and complying with its statutory obligations.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The following activities were completed:
- LC36 Compliance inspection [Organisational capability]
- Review of progress against regulatory issues as recorded on the ONR Regulatory Issues Database and other regulatory actions agreed during previous ONR inspection activities;
- Meeting with the site safety representatives;
- Review of DSRL’s internal regulation activities.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The LC36 compliance inspection focused on the learning identified from the management of change associated with the voluntary early release programme (VER) and the implementation of that learning into their management arrangements for LC36. This inspection also forms part of the activities ONR is undertaking as part of its considerations for the closure of the regulatory issue raised against LC36 in response to concerns identified during the VER programme.
Overall ONR is satisfied that DSRL continues to capture the learning from the recent VER programme via its schedule of post-change reviews. DSRL’s review and subsequent implementation of this learning within their arrangements will be assessed as part of the close out inspection for the regulatory issue scheduled for November this year. We consider that DSRL’s arrangements for LC36 continue to demonstrate compliance against the legal requirements specified within the licence conditions and the regulatory expectations enshrined within ONR’s guidance.
With regards to the other inspection activities, for each of the areas inspected we consider that DSRL continues to make good progress against the action plans agreed to address regulatory issues raised during previous interventions on site. We continue to have confidence in DSRL’s internal regulation capability and consider that the risks identified to senior management from their activities align with ONR’s observations.
Conclusion of Intervention
Overall, we consider that the site is making adequate progress in addressing matters raised in previous inspections and continues to demonstrate an adequate internal regulation capability. We also consider that the arrangements and their associated implementation for LC36 in the areas inspected met with the required standards. We did not identify any matter impacting on nuclear safety that required any further immediate regulatory action.