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Sellafield - Inspection ID: 50668

Executive summary

Date(s) of inspection:

  • March 2023

Aim of inspection

The purpose of this Inspection was to sample evidence supporting the Sellafield Limited capability map. The structure of the capability maps is contained within the ONR Technical Inspection Guide (NS-INSP-GD-011 Issue 7.1). Sellafield Limited has developed and is implementing the Emergency Management Capability Case (EMCC) to assess and substantiate the adequacy of the emergency arrangements on the Sellafield site. This intervention was undertaken in conjunction with a LC15 (Periodic Review) inspection (IIS-50323) on the extant Emergency Services and Communications Safety Case (ESC SC) and EMCC. The aim of the inspection was to understand how Sellafield Limited will incorporate organisational learning into the EMCC and compare this against Relevant Good Practice (RGP).

Subject(s) of inspection

  • LC 11 - Emergency arrangements - Rating: Green

Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made

Sellafield has developed and is implementing the Emergency Management Capability Case (EMCC) to assess and substantiate the adequacy of the emergency arrangements on the Sellafield site. This intervention was undertaken in conjunction with a LC15 (Periodic Review) (IIS-50323) on the extant Emergency Services and Communications Safety Case (ESC SC) and on the EMCC. The aim of this inspection was to understand how Sellafield Limited will incorporate organisational learning into the EMCC and compare this against Relevant Good Practice (RGP).

The inspection was conducted by interviewing persons in key roles associated with Emergency Management and sampling supporting evidence and documentation.

The inspection was rated as GREEN (No formal action) for LC11 - Emergency Arrangements. I concluded that Sellafield Limited meets Relevant Good Practice in terms of effective audit and assurance arrangements for the emergency management programme and effective and critical internal assessment of the emergency demonstration.

Conclusion

NS-INSP-GD-011 Capability Map: ONR Q1.4 SHOW effective audit and assurance arrangements for the emergency management programme

Sellafield Limited was able to describe and evidence how it conducts assurance on the emergency management programme across the three tiers that it has defined. Tier 1 audit and assurance activities are conducted by the Facility/Plant Dutyholders with support from Emergency Planners. The subsequent reports are summarised in status dashboards and are reported to the relevant Management Safety Committee each financial year. In addition, Tier 2 audit and assurance activities are conducted by the Head of Emergency Management Strategy and Policy across the Facility/Plant Dutyholders. Tier 3 audit and assurance activities are conducted by Nuclear Independent Oversight. In my opinion, Sellafield has evidenced effective audit and assurance arrangements for the emergency management programme.

NS-INSP-GD-011 Capability Map: Q6.11 CONDUCT effective and critical internal assessment of the emergency demonstration

Sellafield Limited provided evidence that the emergency demonstration exercise is systematically planned, prepared and reported by qualified and capable Emergency Planners (EP). The exercise summary reports from Emergency Planning and NIO were self-critical and evidence based. In my opinion, the reports represent honest assessments and identify areas for learning. Actions are identified which are tracked through the ATLAS system (electronic action database).