- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 20-040
- Date: September 2020
- 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, Decommissioning, Fuel and Waste (SDFW) Division. The planned inspection schedule for 2020/21, updated as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, identifies the Licence Conditions (LCs) that will be inspected during this period.
The purpose of this inspection was for ONR to determine the adequacy of implementation of SL’s arrangements for compliance with LC 11 (Emergency arrangements) at the Oxide Fuel Storage Group (OFSG).
The overall adequacy of SL's site-wide LC 11 arrangements is considered separately in other ONR interventions.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
I, the Site Inspector for OFSG, carried out a planned LC 11 compliance inspection at OFSG. The inspection focused on:
- OFSG’s implementation of the SL arrangements LC 11;
- OFSG’s application of any COVID-19 SL variations that apply to LC 11.
The inspection comprised discussions with SL staff, a review of records, the sampling of information contained within electronic databases and other documentation and a plant walkdown.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable since this was not a safety system based inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
I found that OFSG has adequately implemented the Sellafield arrangements for LC 11, including the variation made as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. OFSG has provided evidence that it has local arrangements to support LC 11, has produced and implemented an exercise schedule, and a sample of personnel with emergency arrangements’ duties identified that they have been trained in their emergency role(s).
One shortfall was identified in relation to the adequacy of an emergency instruction and this will be followed up as a Level 4 regulatory issue as part of routine regulatory business. Furthermore, I have also identified one matter in relation to how SL categorises safety significant emergency equipment items for Examination, Inspection, Maintenance and Testing; I will raise this with the ONR Corporate Inspectors for consideration.
My findings were shared with, acknowledged and accepted by OFSG’s management as part of normal inspection feedback.
Conclusion of Intervention
On the basis of the evidence sampled at the time of the inspection, I judge that OFSG has adequately implemented SL’s arrangements for LC 11, with one shortfall identified. Noting the ONR guidance on inspection ratings, it is my opinion that an inspection rating of Green (no formal action) is merited. One Level 4 (i.e. lowest level) regulatory issue has been raised to manage the resolution of the identified shortfall.