- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 19-094
- Date: September 2019
- LC numbers: 11
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) undertakes all regulatory interaction with the Sellafield site licensee (Sellafield Limited, SL) against a strategy defined by the ONR Sellafield Sub Division. In accordance with that strategy, a Licence Condition 11 (LC) compliance inspections was carried out on the Special Nuclear Material North (SNM(N)) and Special Nuclear Material South (SNM(S)), as planned, on 11th September 2019.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The purpose of this inspection was for the ONR to determine the adequacy of implementation of the licensee’s formal arrangements for compliance with LC11 (emergency arrangements). The inspection comprised of discussions with SL staff, a review of emergency response records and a visit to the Incident Control Centre (ICC) and Access Control Point (ACP).
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
This was not a system based inspection, and therefore no judgement has been made of the adequacy of implementation of any part of the safety case.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
SL provided an overview of the Emergency Arrangements for the SNM(N) and SNM(S) including recent or future changes to the arrangements. I undertook a review of the SNM Emergency Instructions and the governance processes for the emergency arrangements. Overall I was satisfied that the documented Emergency Arrangements in place and the governance arrangements at the SNM plants were adequate.
I sampled the training records for an Incident Controller (IC) and an Incident Supervisor (IS) and found them to have completed their required training and their SQEP status to be in date.
I sampled the exercise strategy and programme and was satisfied that these were adequate. I selected two of the emergency exercise reports and noted that these had been completed to an adequate standard with the LFE actions tracked and closed out.
I visited the Incident Control Centre (ICC) and Access Control Point (ACP) for SNM(N) and found these to be in a fully functioning condition.
The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.
Conclusion of Intervention
From the evidence sampled during the inspection, I consider that SL has effectively implemented its arrangements for compliance with LC 11 across SNM (North and South) and I have assigned an inspection rating of Green (no formal action) to be appropriate for compliance against LC 11.