- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 21-005
- Date: April 2021
- LC numbers: 7
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. In accordance with that strategy, Licence Condition (LC) compliance inspections were carried out on the Remediation Value Stream, as planned.
The purpose of this inspection was for ONR to determine the adequacy of the implementation of SL’s arrangements for compliance with LC7 (incidents on the site) at Remediation Values Stream - Waste Operating Unit focusing on Waste Monitoring and Compaction (WAMAC) and Off Site Disposal (OSD) facilities.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
I carried out an on-site LC7 compliance inspection of WAMAC and Off Site Disposal of the Waste Operating Unit. The inspection was carried out against ONR’s expectations for LC7. The inspections comprised discussions with SL staff, review of records and sampling of electronic databases and other documentation.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable since this was not a System-Based Inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
No significant matters were identified that required immediate regulatory attention.
From a mixture of sampling records and interviewing SL personnel we saw evidence that WAMAC and OSD have an adequate reporting culture for issues impacting nuclear safety. We found that such issues were appropriately sentenced, investigated, and appropriate corrective actions raised, and subsequently closed. Additionally, we saw evidence of the way SL carries out reviews of the effectiveness of actions carried out.
Whilst the Waste Operating Unit is a newly formed organisation within Remediation Value Stream we saw evidence that SL is making use of intelligence, trending and analysis to drive improvement.
Conclusion of Intervention
From the evidence sampled during the inspection, we judge that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that the licensee’s formal arrangements for compliance with LC7 are being implemented adequately within WAMAC and Off Site Disposal facilities and an inspection rating of Green (no formal action) was merited. The rationale for this decision was discussed with the licensee and the decision was accepted.
No significant matters were identified that required immediate regulatory attention.