- Site: Heysham 2
- IR number: 21-139
- Date: December 2021
- LC numbers: 8
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of this intervention was to carry out a compliance inspection at EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited’s (NGL’s) Heysham 2 power station. I observed a shift exercise in line with the planned inspection programme contained in the Heysham 2 Integrated Intervention Strategy (IIS) for 2021/22. Due to observation made during this shift exercise in relation to emergency warning signs I also undertook a reactive Licence Condition 8 (Warning notices) inspection.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
I, the nominated site inspector, observed an emergency shift exercise and undertook a reactive LC8 compliance inspection which involved the consideration of both generic and local implementation documents as defined within the licensee’s arrangements. The following areas were covered as part of the inspection:
I sampled the licensee’s arrangements primarily through its principle compliance documentation.
Undertook a plant walk around in the following areas :
- Hydrogen Compound
- Main Gatehouse
- ASC-Outage and Simulator Building 1st Floor
This 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 – no system based inspections were completed during this intervention.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The key findings of this intervention were:
- The observed shift exercise was challenging as it was a joint Heysham 1 and 2 exercise, that contained beyond design basis elements. This tested and exercised the use of off-site emergency equipment and the use of emergency response guidelines (SBERGs). Overall, there was a strong nuclear safety focus and control centres performed adequately considering that this was the first full scale training exercise in over 18 months for the teams involved. However, the fire team was slow to respond to a fire event; time was lost in sending personnel (on foot to investigate a fire alarm), who then needed to report back to the Access Control Point before assembly at the fire station. The station are working on improvements to the speed of fire team response.
- The Licensee’s arrangements that manage LC8 compliance with respect to fire notices were consistent with ONR’s guidance.
- I walked down a sample of buildings. I observed fire warning notices were maintained and consistent with the requirements of the relevant area fire risk assessments. I also noted, for the areas sampled, adequate notices in place to advice personnel of required actions in the event of a site incident, security incident or off-site nuclear emergency. Although no systematic shortfalls in warning notices were found, the process for managing warning notices (for non-fire emergencies) could be strengthened.
Conclusion of Intervention
Following the reactive LC 8 compliance inspection I the nominated site inspector judged that compliance with LC8 generally met ONR’s expectations and hence assigned an inspection rating of Green.
I have created a minor regulatory issue to improve the process for managing warning notices for emergencies other than fire.