- Site: Hunterston B
- IR number: 20-101
- Date: December 2020
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of this intervention was to provide regulatory confidence in the management of conventional health and safety (CHS) hazards present at EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited’s (NGL) Hunterston B (HNB) power station. This work reflects the inspection programme contained in ONR’s Operating Reactors work plan
The ONR strategy has identified several priority conventional health and safety topics/activities to be covered during inspection activities. Work at Height and Machinery Guarding are both currently key areas of CHS concern.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The inspection was carried out on the 8th and 9th December 2020 by a specialist conventional health and safety inspector. The key regulatory activities undertaken during the two-day inspection were:
- To provide regulatory confidence in the management of work at height risks and compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAH). The focus was on three areas – planning and supervision of work at height activities, competence of staff carrying out the work and suitability of the equipment used.
- To provide regulatory confidence in the management of risks associated with dangerous part of machinery and compliance with the requirements of regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
- To obtain an overview of the stations CHS management arrangements and performance.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
N/A
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
I sampled various work at height activities being carried out by contractors and observed good practice taking place in relation to the three focus areas – planning and supervision, competence of staff and suitability of equipment.
I sampled the station arrangements for controlling risks associated with the dangerous parts of engineering machinery. I observed good guarding standards on traditional engineering machinery.
I enquired about the progress made by the station following a fleet wide concern raised by ONR around standards of fixed plant guarding. The station has successfully completed the risk assessment phase of this work and has installed temporary mitigation measures where required. An acceptable timeframe for delivery of the permanent guarding solutions was discussed and agreed with the station.
I made general observations in relation to COVID 19 control measures. These indicated suitable station compliance with social distancing requirements, use of face coverings and hand washing.
Conclusion of Intervention
I observed good standards during the inspection in the key focus area of work at height, this was rated Green with no formal action required from ONR.
The key area of machinery guarding was also rated Green with one regulatory issue raised in relation to fixed plant to maintain oversight of the implementation of the planned programme of improvements.