- Site:AWE Burghfield
- IR number: 19-022
- Date: June 2019
- LC numbers: 11
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This report covers a planned inspection at AWE Burghfield Licensed Site and is undertaken in accordance with ONR’s Operating Facilities Division Weapons Sub-programme Strategy 2018 - 2020 for the Atomic Weapons Establishment Programme.
The inspections undertaken at the Burghfield Licensed Site form part of a series of planned interventions in accordance with the ONR AWE Inspection Plan April ’19 - March ’20.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The licence condition was inspected against ONR’s published guidance requirements, as described in the technical inspection guides, which can be found at:
Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Compliance inspection - Technical inspection guides.
The intervention was held within a facility on the Burghfield Nuclear Licensed Site and was the annual demonstration of the arrangements in place to deal with an on-site emergency as required under LC11 and described in the Defence Programme Strategy.
The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.
ONR conducted an assessment of implementation of the Licence Condition (LC) 11, Emergency Arrangements through a Level 1 Emergency Exercise demonstration within a facility on the Burghfield Nuclear Licensed Site.
ONR also conducted interventions on a facility Level 1 Emergency Exercise Presentation, and Overview, a Level 3 Corporate meeting, strategy update meeting, site change meeting and a regular meeting with the AWE Communications team. ONR also provide advice to the Programme Management Office regarding the ONR’s role, structure and work at the AWE site.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
For the LC 11 compliance inspection, based on the demonstration assessed in respect of the established emergency arrangements ONR concluded that the demonstration was to an adequate standard. The detailed comments of the inspection team for this demonstration will be summarised in a letter to the licensee.
For the Assembly Facility Level 1 Emergency Exercise Presentation and Overview ONR was satisfied that there were no shortfalls, that the exercise was realistic and required no need for any regulatory action.
For the other interventions described in this report no new issues were raised and there is currently no requirement for further regulatory action in addition to that already planned as part of normal business.
Conclusion of Intervention
It is ONR’s opinion that of the Level 1 Emergency Exercise Demonstration assessed, the implementation of the established emergency arrangements, on the Burghfield Nuclear Licensed Site, is to an adequate standard, in respect of Licence Condition 11. A Green rating is therefore considered appropriate.
There are no other findings from this inspection that could significantly undermine nuclear safety. The planned interventions set out in the Operating Facilities Division Weapons Sub-programme Strategy 2018 - 2020 for the Atomic Weapons Establishment Programme remain valid and will be followed for future inspections.