- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 21-072
- Date: August 2021
- 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 Subdivision. In accordance with that strategy, Licence Condition (LC) compliance inspections were carried out on the Magnox Operating Unit (OU), as planned.
The purpose of this inspection was to confirm that the licensee had implemented the arrangements for emergency preparedness at the Magnox Reprocessing Facility (MRF) in line with Licence Condition 11 (Emergency Arrangements).
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
I carried out an on-site LC 11 compliance inspection of Magnox Reprocessing Facility (MRF). The inspection was also supported by a member of the internal Nuclear Intelligence & Independent Oversight team. It was an unannounced inspection with no prior notification to the facility. The inspections comprised discussions with SL staff, a plant visit and a review of records and documentation.
LC11 requires the licensee to make and implement adequate arrangements for dealing with any accident or emergency arising on the site and their effects. As part of the preparation for the delivery of this intervention, the following formal ONR guidance documentation was used:
- NS-INSP-GD-011 - Licence Condition 11 – Emergency Arrangements and REPPIR
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
This was not a system-based inspection and is therefore not applicable.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
I undertook a review of the Minimum Safety Manning Levels document which outlines the role requirements for responding to an emergency and during the plant visit I was able to confirm that the relevant MRF individuals were in attendance on the facility.
I undertook a plant visit to the facilities Access Control Points (ACP) and Incident Control Centre (ICC) and was content that the ACP and ICC were being maintained and were in an adequate condition to respond to an emergency situation.
During the plant visit, I undertook discussions with the Control Room Operators, Shift Team Leader and Shift Team Coordinator and was content that these individuals understood their roles and responsibilities for the response to an emergency situation at the MRF.
I sampled the training records of the individuals who would undertake the following roles on the day shift, Incident Controller, Deputy Incident Controller and Incident Supervisor. These three individuals had all completed the required training and had been assessed competent to undertake their designated roles.
Conclusion of Intervention
From the evidence sampled during these inspections, I judge that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that the licensee’s formal arrangements for compliance with Licence Condition 11 are being adequately implemented within the Magnox Reprocessing Facility 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.