- Site: Hunterston B
- IR number: 22-053
- Date: June 2022
- LC numbers: 34
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This report presents the findings of an inspection of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd.’s Licence Condition 34 and radiological protection arrangements at Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station. The purpose of the inspection was to provide regulatory confidence in relation to the licensee’s arrangements for compliance with License Condition 34 (LC18) and the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17).
This was a planned inspection, in line with the Operating Reactors plan for 2022/23. The inspection was undertaken by Vaughan Rees on 28th June to 2022.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The intervention focussed on aspects of LC34 related to contamination control in areas and operations associated with the fuel route and in compliance with related aspects of IRR 17 as follows:
- Regulation 8 Radiation Risk Assessments
- Regulation 9 Restriction of exposure
- Regulation 11 Maintenance and examination of engineering controls etc. and personal protective equipment
- Regulation 17 Designation of Controlled and Supervised Areas
- Regulation 18 Local Rules and radiation Protection Supervisors
- Regulation 19 Additional requirements for designated Areas
- Regulation 20 Monitoring of designated areas
- Regulation 28 Sealed sources and articles containing or embodying radioactive substances
- Regulation 29 Accounting for radioactive substances
- Regulation 30 Keeping and moving of radioactive substances
- Regulation 31 Notification of certain occurrences
I assessed compliance with the requirements of LC34 and IRR17 relevant to the above areas. The inspection was undertaken in accordance with ONR's LC34 technical Inspection Guide NS-INSP-GD-034 - LC34 and IRR17 Technical Inspection Guide, NS-INSP-GD-054.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable – this was not a system-based inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The inspection did not reveal any significant nuclear safety concerns that require action by the licensee or further follow-up by ONR.
The inspection and discussions with the Head of Radiological Protection for Hunterston B and other representatives of the licensee provided adequate assurance that there is effective Radiation Protection practice in place and an adequate level of compliance with the requirements of LC34 and IRR17.
Conclusion of Intervention
Based on my sampling of the licensee’s arrangements for compliance with LC34 (LC18) and IRR17, I am satisfied that the arrangements the licensee has in place are adequate. A rating of Green was therefore assigned for this inspection.