Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: March 2024
Aim of inspection
To confirm Dounreay continued compliance with relevant electrical and industrial safety standards with regard to electrical safety. As well as to ensure that relevant nuclear safety and security electrical demands are met with appropriate reliability.
Follow up from IIS-50080 and RI-11333, 11334 and 11335.
Subject(s) of inspection
- Health & Safety at Work Act - Rating: Amber
- LC28 - Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing - Rating: Amber
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
This was a planned inspection to sample the Dounreay site electrical distribution system against the requirements of Licence Condition 28 (Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing) and electrical safety regulations. Arrangements were sampled for the control and supervision of electrical work and the extant condition of the electrical system. Several areas of the site were sampled, including electrical switch rooms, transformer pens, plant areas and laboratories.
Progress was sampled against outstanding regulatory RI-11333, RI-11334 and RI-11335, but it was not considered appropriate to close any of these issues on the evidence provided, although progress in a number of areas has been made.
The plant walk down identified areas where electrical equipment was found in a degraded state and regulatory advice was given.
On account of the regulatory advice given for various aspects of electrical safety and plant condition I have assessed compliance with Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 as Amber (seek improvement) and Licence Condition 28 as Amber (seek improvement). The identified deficiencies are being considered through ONR’s enforcement management model.
Conclusion
On account of the regulatory advice given for various aspects of electrical safety and plant condition I have assessed compliance with Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 as Amber (seek improvement) and Licence Condition 28 as Amber (seek improvement). This remains unchanged since ONR's March 2023 inspection and I will work with ONR's Dounreay site inspector and seek to influence an acceleration of the improvements.