- Site: Devonport
- IR number: 19-117
- Date: November 2019
- LC numbers: 13
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This intervention at the Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd (DRDL), Plymouth, was undertaken as part of a planned series of inspections during 2019/20. The purpose of this inspection was to judge the extent to which the licensee complies with Licence Condition (LC) 13, which requires the licensee to have a Nuclear Safety Committee to provide it with nuclear safety advice.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
On the 12th November 2019 an ONR Operating Facilities Division (Defence Propulsion) Site Inspector undertook an LC13 inspection of licensed site.
ONR utilised the following guidance during this intervention: ONR Nuclear Safety Technical Inspection Guide (TIG) NS-INSP-GD-013 Revision 4 – LC 13 Nuclear Safety Committee.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
N/A
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The Nuclear Safety Committee (NSC) is operating in accordance with its ToR, providing challenge and advice to the licensee on safety related matters. Observed strengths include good NSC attendance by independent members, and conduct of the NSC with respect to positive challenge and debate, and recognition of the role of the NSC in providing advice.
Two observations were identified:
- The NSC should take a holistic view of the licensee’s activities that have the potential to influence nuclear safety. They should widen their focus beyond safety submissions, to include safety culture, supply chain health, governance arrangements, review of SPIs, an overview of improvement programmes (e.g. NSIP) and seek feedback from the no executives on the board.
- The licensee should periodically review the effectiveness of the NSC.
An ONR regulatory issue was raised entitled ‘DRDL NSC to create a Schedule of Matters’ to be managed through ONR’s routine regulatory issues process.
Conclusion of Intervention
Based on the evidence sampled during this inspection I judged that measured against ONR’s expectations for LC13 (Nuclear Safety Committee), the intervention rating is GREEN (no formal action), with identification of three areas of good practice, two regulatory observations (areas for improvement) and one regulatory issue. The observations, recommendations and regulatory issue were communicated to and accepted by the licensee during the intervention feedback.