- Site: Hinkley Point C
- IR number: 21-033
- Date: November 2021
- LC numbers: 17
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of this intervention was to assess whether NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd, hereafter referred to as NNB GenCo (HPC), has implemented suitable arrangements to mitigate potential safety and quality issues arising from multiple languages and cultures at Hinkley Point C (HPC) site.
This intervention was undertaken as part of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) intervention plan, HPC Project Intervention Plan beyond J0.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
Licence Condition 17 (Management Systems) requires NNB GenCo (HPC) to establish and implement management systems which give due priority to safety. As part of these nuclear safety prioritised management systems ONR expects NNB GenCo (HPC) to ‘make and implement adequate quality management arrangements in respect of all matters which may affect safety’.
We (ONR) conducted this intervention by observation and by interaction with staff from NNB GenCo (HPC), Balfour Beatty, BYLOR, Tissot and the Mechanical, Electrical and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Alliance (MEHA).
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
N/A as this was not a safety systems inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
Most of the workers that we interviewed had sufficient knowledge of English. For those instances where translation was necessary, we found that the translation services put in place were adequate to mitigate the risk stemming from a language barrier. We saw evidence of translated guidance or notices on site.
We found several examples of a healthy safety culture such as stopping the work or challenging an unsafe situation, not accepting a schedule pressure when this will have a negative impact on safety, recognising and valuing higher quality standards at a nuclear construction site and open and honest attitude during the interaction with the inspectors. Workers of different backgrounds, and across different groups, were helping each other, thus demonstrating that they are living the HPC Project values.
The induction training is valued and seems to be effective. There were positive examples of successful integration and subsequent career progression of the originally non-English speaking workers within the HPC Project. Some of the interviewed workers shared their positive stories of meeting the HPC senior leadership. The multi/bilingual supervisors that we interviewed or observed provided sufficient interface between the HPC Project and the workers who were not fluent in English.
We observed one instance of a very interactive daily activity briefing and one instance when the daily activity briefing was followed by no discussion or challenge. Some workers expressed their desire to understand better how their work is contributing to the HPC Project. NNB GenCo (HPC) has confirmed that briefing sessions to cover this area have recently started.
Minor health and safety at work related observations were communicated to NNB GenCo (HPC) during the intervention and were subsequently dealt with.
Based on the interviews and observations during this intervention, we have concluded that NNB GenCo (HPC) has implemented suitable arrangements to mitigate potential safety and quality issues arising from multiple languages and cultures at the HPC site.
Conclusion of Intervention
Overall, based upon the judgements described above, I have concluded that an inspection rating of GREEN is appropriate for Licence Condition 17 – Management systems.