- Site: Transport Competent Authority
- IR number: 21-001
- Date: April 2021
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
ONR regulates the civil transport of radioactive material by road, rail and inland waterway in Great Britain (GB). The ONR Transport Competent Authority (TCA) is responsible for delivering non-nuclear transport inspection and enforcement activities. This particular inspection forms part of that delivery function with reference to Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG) and the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17). CDG refers to the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and ONR regulated against ADR 2019 during this inspection (www.unece.org).
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of the inspection was to review Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited’s arrangements associated with the road transport of radioactive material. ONR carried out this inspection remotely via Microsoft teams on 21 April 2021.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The chosen inspection sample included:
- Consent – IRR17 Regulation 7;
- Radiation protection adviser – IRR17 Regulation 14;
- Safety Adviser – RID 1.8.3
- Transport package certificate of compliance – ADR 5.1.5.2.3
- A suitable and sufficient radiation risk assessment (RRA) – IRR17 Regulation 8;
- Suitable and sufficient contingency planning and/or emergency arrangements – IRR17 Regulation 13 and CDG 2009 Regulation 24 & Schedule 2;
- Suitable and sufficient measures to restrict exposure – IRR17 Regulation 9;
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The inspector sampled the arrangements deployed by Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited for the safe transport of radioactive materials, including the associated arrangements for protecting workers against the effects of ionising radiations and reducing risks as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
The inspector compared relevant statutory requirements with both prescribed arrangements and actual practice. A number of examples of the duty holder meeting relevant good practice in reducing risk to levels that are ALARP were identified including: appropriate consent and appropriate Radiation Protection Adviser, Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser and Radiation Protection Supervisor appointments.
A number of contraventions of specific administrative requirements against legislation were identified and discussed during the inspection, which included having a certificates of compliance for the transport packages used, a suitable and sufficient RRA and emergency plan.
Conclusion of Intervention
Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited demonstrated that for the aspects of its transport operations inspected it met the requirements of CDG, ADR and IRR17.
Based on the inspection sample, the inspector identified 3 contraventions of administrative requirements against legislation. ONR discussed these non-compliances during the inspection and Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited gave a commitment to address them.
ONR gave Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited until 31 May 2021 to provide ONR either with evidence that the findings have been resolved, or an appropriate resolution plan with timescales for completion.
For this intervention, an overall IIS Rating of GREEN was given to reflect that legal duties are complied with, although there were minor contraventions of specific administrative requirements.
The identified contraventions will be managed through ONR’s Issues Management arrangements.