- Site: Dounreay
- IR number: 21-170
- Date: February 2022
- LC numbers: 11
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This inspection at Dounreay was one of a series of inspections planned for 2021/22 to confirm that Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) is controlling its hazards and complying with its statutory obligations.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The principal aim of this inspection was to assess the partial re-demonstration Emergency Exercise conducted in response to opportunities for improvement identified during the Level 1 Site Safety Demonstration Exercise conducted in September 2021. This assessment was conducted against the requirements of Licence Condition 11 [LC11 – Emergency Arrangements] and the Radiation Emergency Preparedness & Public Information Regulations 2019 (REPPIR19).
This intervention also provided an opportunity to conduct an ONR ‘Cross-Sites’ Themed Inspection focused on Radiological Protective Equipment (RPE). This inspection was conducted by ONR Radiation Protection Specialist Inspectors against the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17)
The Dounreay Nominated Site Inspector also conducted the following additional inspection activities:
- Review of progress against Regulatory Issues and ‘Agreed Regulatory Actions’.
- Review of Internal Regulation activities.
- Meeting with the Dounreay Site Safety Representatives.
- Attendance at the Dounreay Sites Stakeholder Group Meeting.
This inspection also provided the opportunity for the Dounreay Nominated Site Inspector to conduct follow-up activities in response to a ‘Formal Notification’ [INF1] of an event on site involving the discovery very low levels of contamination within material packages received at Dounreay during its previous period of fuel processing operations. The intent of these activities was to inform considerations regarding any future action to be undertaken by ONR.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The Level 1 partial re-demonstration Exercise focused on DSRL’s arrangements for the management and recovery of contaminated casualties from a radiological environment. ONR is satisfied that DSRL provided an adequate demonstration of their revised arrangements for casualty management and recovery; the exercise also reinforced the effectiveness of DSRL’s revised arrangements for the command and control at the scene of the incident.
The themed intervention conduct at DSRL is part of a nuclear industry wide intervention into the implementation of the UK Nuclear Industry Guide to: Respiratory Protective Equipment, HSG 53 as applied with IRR17. ONR satisfied itself of the level of implementation of the arrangements and compliance with those arrangements by the duty holder. The intervention provided invaluable information towards this industry-wide intervention.
DSRL continues to demonstrate satisfactory progress addressing regulatory issues raised during previous interventions and there are clear strategies in place to support the longer term strategic improvement activities.
DSRL’s internal regulation capability continues to provide an effective tier 3 assurance capability and remains actively engaged in the oversight and governance of key risk reduction activities across site.
Conclusion of Intervention
Overall, we consider that DSRL has, and has implemented, adequate arrangements to meet the requirements of the legislation covered by this inspection. In addition, we consider that DSRL continues to make satisfactory progress to address issues raised during previous inspections. We did not identify any matter impacting on nuclear safety that required any further immediate regulatory action.