- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 19-122
- Date: November 2019
- LC numbers: 12, 26
Executive summary
In accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (ONR’s) Sellafield Strategy, each year ONR performs a series of planned compliance inspections of selected licence conditions, targeted at those facilities with significant importance to nuclear safety.
Two such licence condition inspections were carried out to assess Sellafield Ltd.’s (SL’s) compliance with Corporate arrangements for licence conditions (LC) 12 – Duly Authorised and other Suitably Qualified and Experienced Persons and 26 – Control; and Supervision of Operations, at the Special Nuclear Materials Value Stream (South).
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
ONR Inspectors carried out planned compliance inspections against licence conditions 12 - Duly authorised and other suitably qualified and experienced persons, and 26 -Control and supervision of operations.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
N/A as this was not a safety systems inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
LC 12 Inspection
From the inspection sample, I found that SNM(S) have continued to appropriately comply with SL corporate arrangements for the appointment/ reappointment of Duly Authorised Persons (DAP) and Appointed Suitably Qualified and Experienced Persons (ASQEPs) roles. My findings included that waivers were used in an appropriate manner and that appointment panels were appropriately constituted.
LC 26 Inspection
From the inspection sample, I found that SNM(S) has been appropriately maintaining a control and supervision baseline. By observing a shift handover (from outgoing to incoming DAPs and the subsequent team shift brief) I gained confidence that operations that may affect safety are carried out under the control and supervision of Suitably Qualified and Experienced Persons (SQEPs). This was reinforced by observing two sequential SNM(S) Plant Operations Control Centre (POCC) daily meetings, and a facility (POCC) meeting. In addition, I judged that a Superintending Officer (SO) who oversees contractors undertaking maintenance on some nuclear safety significant equipment demonstrated a sound understanding of their control and supervision responsibilities as identified in SL corporate arrangements.
Conclusion of Intervention
On the basis of the evidence gathered during the inspection, I judge that inspection ratings of GREEN are appropriate for compliance against both LCs. This is because I found SL to have adequately implemented its corporate arrangements for these LCs. Minor areas for improvement will be taken forward as part of routine regulatory business.