- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 19-142
- Date: December 2019
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
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, Decommissioning, Fuel and Waste (SDFW) Division. This report presents the findings of a planned intervention that was undertaken in order to assess compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17) within the Special Nuclear Materials South (SNM(S)) area on the Sellafield Site.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The intervention consisted of an examination of the implementation of arrangements to secure compliance with the requirements of IRR17 by discussion with key facility personnel and inspection of plant. The key requirements examined were those relating to the following IRR17 regulations:
- Regulation 8 (Radiation Risk Assessments)
- Regulation 9 (Restriction of Exposure)
- Regulation 14 (Radiation Protection Adviser)
- Regulation 15 (Information, Instruction and Training)
- Regulation 17 (Designation of Controlled and Supervised Areas)
- Regulation18 (Local Rules and Radiation Protection Supervisors)
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable, this was not a System Based Inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The following summarises the key observations arising from discussions, sampled documentation and inspection of the facility during this intervention:
- I welcomed the internal challenge with respect to the requirement to improve the linking of risk assessments that relate to the same overall task.
- There was good appreciation of future dose challenges, both in the short term in supporting the UK Materials Consolidation Programme, and future Post Operational Clean-Out (POCO) operations.
- Significant work had been undertaken to reduce the potential for contaminated wounds due to sharps within gloveboxes, and this was linked to robust work control initiatives.
- Advice was provided to SL in relation to the need to clarify the requirement for the storage, maintenance and testing of the lead aprons.
Conclusion of Intervention
In conclusion, I judged that, on the basis of evidence sampled at the time of this inspection, compliance with IRR17 was demonstrated and an inspection rating of Green (no formal action) is appropriate.