- Site: Heysham 1
- IR number: 20-029
- Date: August 2020
- LC numbers: 26
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This was a planned inspection of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd.’s (NGL’s) Heysham 1 Power Station, undertaken as part of the intervention strategy for the Operating Facilities Division (OFD) of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
The work was carried out in accordance with the planned inspection programme contained in the Heysham 1 Integrated Intervention Strategy (IIS) for 2020/21.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
As part of this intervention I, the nominated site inspector, carried out a planned on-site inspection against:
- Licence condition (LC) 26 – Control and supervision of operations.
The purpose of LC 26 is to ensure the licensee carries out no operations which may affect safety except under the control and supervision of suitably qualified and experienced persons appointed for that purpose by the licensee.
Operations as defined in LC 1 includes maintenance, examination, testing and operation of the plant and the treatment, processing, keeping, storing, accumulating or carriage of any radioactive material or radioactive waste and “operating” and “operational” shall be construed accordingly.
The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.
Whilst at site, I also took the opportunity to review NGL’s arrangements to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the onward transmission of COVID-19.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
No system based inspection was undertaken; therefore this is not applicable for this intervention.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
I inspected NGL’s arrangements for ‘Control and supervision of operations’as part of the planned maintenance being conducted on gas turbine no.6.
I observed adequate control and supervision being applied in the areas sampled which covered:
- Integrated maintenance requirements and resource planning;
- Communications of maintenance requirements and plant availability through use of the ‘Plan of the day’ meetings;
- ‘Setting to work’ briefs delivered by the maintenance team leader which included routine ‘on the job’ follow up and end of day debrief;
- Safety document adherence at the start and end of the working day.
There were no regulatory issues generated as a result of this inspection and I judged that NGL adequately demonstrated compliance with the requirements of LC 26 and therefore rated this inspection as Green, no formal action.
In addition, from the sample of physical arrangements inspected I was content that NGL were adequately implementing measures to reduce the risks associated with COVID-19 transmission. Examples of physical arrangements included the use of thermal imaging at site entrances; availability of hand sanitiser solutions; personnel testing, isolation and track and trace measures; disinfectant and cleaning materials in all offices; signage and briefing material used to reinforce the 2 metre social distancing rule and hand wash policy and close proximity facemask working arrangements.
Behaviourally the majority of persons observed adhered to the 2 metre social distancing rule, however on two occasions I observed a small number of individuals who did not adhere to the social distancing criteria. This included observation of individuals walking ‘shoulder to shoulder’ and three persons engaged in a discussion. I noted that the behavioural issues associated with the 2 metre adherence rule are already the subject and priority of senior management who are actively reviewing measures to improve adherence. I was encouraged by the senior management’s response to my observations.
Conclusion of Intervention
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 1 Power Station as set out in the Integrated Intervention Strategy, which will continue as planned.
Until further notice, all on-site inspections will include additional inspection of the site’s COVID-19 mitigation measures.