- Site: Heysham 2
- IR number: 19-094
- Date: September 2019
- LC numbers: 2, 16
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of this intervention was to undertake compliance inspections at the EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Heysham 2 Power Station. The compliance inspections concerned nuclear site licence conditions (LC) 2, which concerns marking of the site boundary, and LC16 site plans, designations and specifications.
The intervention was planned in accordance with ONR’s Heysham 2 Integrated Intervention Strategy (IIS) for 2018/19.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The current nominated site inspector for Heysham 2 and I (new Heysham 2 site inspector) inspected the marking of the boundary of the site as set out in the plan attached to the Heysham nuclear site licence. For LC16 we examined the arrangements to ensure that plans of the site and its buildings remain accurate and up to date. The inspection included interviews with key staff, review of relevant documents and a walk-down of relevant parts of the Station.
The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
A system-based inspection was not performed.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
For LC2 I found that the Station had processes in place for monitoring and maintaining the existing markings of the site boundary, which at Heysham covers a much wider area than that represented by the site security fence. However there was an area where signage had been inadvertently moved reducing the site by a few metres; in addition NGL have self-identified a small area of land within the security boundary, owned by NGL but not within the nuclear licensed site that could be better signed to persons within the security fence. A number of signs were missing, in the wrong location and there was ambiguity over the company standards associated with site boundary signage.
For LC16 there was evidence that site plans are updated every 6 months however during the site walk-down a number of buildings were found that were not on the site plan. Moreover, it was not clear how the change of purpose/inventory or modifications to buildings are communicated to those responsible for ensuring that the plan remains current.
Conclusion of Intervention
The findings of this intervention were communicated verbally to Heysham 2 management. Regulatory issues have been agreed with site in relation to improved signage of the nuclear site boundary and the updating of the site plan. I rated the intervention ‘AMBER’ with respect to LC2 and LC16 due to the my judgement that there were a number of administrative gaps in compliance within the licensee’s arrangements for compliance against LC 2 and the adequacy of the site plan.
There were no findings from this inspection that could significantly undermine nuclear safety. At present, no additional regulatory action is needed over and above the planned interventions at Heysham 2 power station as set out in the 2019/20 Integrated Intervention Strategy.