Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
Aim of inspection
The aim of the inspection is to consider Dounreay’s management of organisational change, both in relation to the recent joining with Magnox Ltd and in relation to future expected organisational changes. The inspection will also consider any progress against previously identified cultural issues on site and whether Dounreay’s cultural improvement plan is having a notable impact on site.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC36 - Organisational capability - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
This was a planned Licence Condition (LC)36 (Organisational Capability) compliance inspection. It was conducted by ONR’s site inspector and an ONR specialist leadership and management for safety inspector.
The aim of the inspection was to consider Dounreay’s management of organisational change, both in relation to the recent joining with Magnox Ltd and in relation to future expected organisational changes. The inspection also considered progress against previously identified cultural issues on site (regulatory issue RI-10942).
I participated in several cultural focus groups (see related inspection IR-52316), health and safety walkdowns (see related inspection IR-52850) and interviews with a wide range of people on the Dounreay site. I held discussions with Dounreay’s organisational excellence director on progress against RI-10942 and discussions on Dounreay’s Fit for the Future (FFF) programme with the change manager and managing director.
I judge that the joining with Magnox Ltd has not had a detrimental effect on safety at the site. However, uncertainty in the long-term plan and the prospect of further organisational change with the introduction of the FFF programme is causing uncertainty. In addition, there is a risk that FFF will create distraction for the people involved in its planning and delivery. Advice was given to Dounreay’s senior leadership that further communication with Dounreay's people at all levels as well as improve leadership visibility could be used to address concerns about the future. We also informed Dounreay management that ONR will assess the FFF management of change submission in line with the principles of proportionate and enabling regulation.
It was confirmed that Dounreay has implemented a cultural change initiative and as such I agreed that regulatory issue (RI-10942) can be closed. Monitoring of success of any cultural initiative will be a long-term endeavour and will be monitored through normal regulatory interaction.
Conclusion
From this intervention I judge that:
- The joining of Dounreay with Magnox Ltd has not had a detrimental impact on safety at site. Leadership and communication throughout the change provided the people with confidence that there would be minimal impact on them as a result of the change.
- The development and implementation of Dounreay’s FFF organisation change programme could have significant impacts on organisational capability. Dounreay leadership are distracted by the work required to put in place the long-term plan and FFF. A lack of consistent and regular communication from management to site has led to concerns with site personnel with regard to the future.
- Following discussions with the organisational excellence director on the progress with the site's cultural programme (see presentation at ONRW-648724129-9170) and RI-10942. I judge that the Regulatory Issue RI-10942 can be closed now that a culture programme is established, and monitoring is on-going.
- I judge that the overall inspection rating is Green but further regulatory engagement with Dounreay will continue with regard to the implementation of their FFF organisational change programme.