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Compliance inspection of Licence Condition (LC) 10 and LC 12

  • Site: AWE Aldermaston
  • IR number: 21-032
  • Date: August 2021
  • LC numbers: 10, 12

Executive summary

Purpose of Intervention

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) undertakes all regulatory interventions with the Aldermaston and Burghfield nuclear site licensee, AWE plc (AWE) against a strategy defined by the ONR Weapons sub-Division. In accordance with that strategy, a series of Licence Conditions (LC) compliance inspections were undertaken on Aldermaston, as planned, on 30 June, 14 and 15 July, and 2 August 2021. 

The purpose of the intervention was for the ONR to inspect and determine the adequacy of implementation of AWE’s formal arrangements for compliance with LC 10 (Training) and LC 12 (Duly authorised and other suitably qualified and experienced persons) across the organisation.

Interventions Carried Out by ONR

The intervention focussed on the people and processes that AWE has in place to comply with its LC 10 and 12 arrangements and was undertaken via desktop discussions, semi-structured interviews with relevant personnel, and sampled review of relevant documents and records.  

The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.

Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate

Not applicable - this was not a system-based inspection, therefore no judgement in this regard was made.

Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made

Based on the evidence sampled at the time of the intervention against AWE’s LC 10 and LC 12 arrangements and ONR’s associated LC requirements and TIGs, I consider that AWE has not consistently implemented its arrangements across all its functions. This current view aligns with that of AWE’s own LC owners and internal regulator findings. For the areas sampled, AWE could not consistently demonstrate that:

Specific training for roles has been identified and individuals are successfully completing it.

Activities that require a SQEP/DAP are identified and SQEP have been appropriately appointed.

Conclusion of Intervention

Based on the findings of the intervention I judge that an overall inspection rating of Amber (seek improvement) is merited, in accordance with ONR Guide ONR-INSP-GD-064, where there was evidence of systematic failure to implement or meet compliance arrangements and shortfalls against identified relevant good practice when compared with appropriate benchmarks. Regulatory Issues 8905 & 8906 will be used to address the shortfalls identified.