- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 19-072
- Date: August 2019
- LC numbers: 26
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) undertakes all regulatory interactions with the Sellafield site licensee (Sellafield Limited, SL) against a strategy defined by the ONR Sellafield Sub Division. This planned intervention was undertaken as part of the ONR 2019/20 Intervention Plan.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
I conducted a Licence Condition (LC) compliance inspection of LC 26 (“Control and supervision of operations”) in the Magnox Encapsulation Plant (MEP) and the Waste Encapsulation Plant (WEP). This inspection focused on SL’s implementation of their arrangements to ensure that all operations which may affect safety are carried out under the control and supervision of duly authorised persons suitably qualified and experienced.
This inspection was conducted to enable ONR to make a judgement as to the adequacy of the implementation of the licensee’s arrangements for compliance with LC 26.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable since this was not a safety system based inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
I witnessed the start of (night) shift Plant Operations Control Centre (POCC) and Lead Team POCC meetings. I considered that the meetings set the right tone, set the right priorities and included a good discussion on the current condition of the plant.
I sampled the training records for a WEP Operations Team Leader, MEP Operations Team Leader and the Shift Co-Ordinator and found them to have completed the required training.
I reviewed the nuclear safety dashboard for MEP and considered the process to be suitable and sufficient.
I sampled three permits to work and associated documentation and judged the documented working arrangements were suitable and sufficient for the task.
I undertook a plant walk down in WEP and spoke to an operator on plant. In my opinion the operator had a good understanding of the task they were undertaking and the control and supervision was appropriate.
Whilst conducting the compliance inspection of LC 26, no matters were identified as requiring immediate regulatory attention.
I examined evidence of the licensee’s compliance with its arrangements for LC 26 and consider, on the basis of my sample, that the licensee is compliant with its duties under LC 26.
Conclusion of Intervention
The LC 26 compliance inspection concluded that the licensee had adequately implemented its arrangements for LC 26 and an inspection rating of Green (no formal action required) is merited here.