Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: March 2024
Aim of inspection
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC19 - Construction or installation of new plant - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
The inspection findings were as follows:
- There is a clear understanding of the processes and arrangements to be utilised for cable pulling by NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd (NNB GenCo).
- For the limited scope of activities currently being undertaken, the process to support cable pulling is broadly adequate. However, the process will require further development prior to any significant increase in activity.
- The key tools to support cable pulling are proportionately developed for the current scope of works, and there is a clear plan for further development, testing and roll-out, i.e. to enable the use of tablets at the work-face, and full digitization of the 9 step process for cable installation.
- Based on a sample of cable pulling in the conventional island electrical building (HF), a number of areas for improvement were identified. These included:
- an absence of a formal method for part pulling cables and their subsequent protection;
- issues which have the potential to lead to latent defects in cables, including: lack of compliance with manufacturers' instruction such as bend radii, cable fouling on metal work, and engineering hygiene on cable trays where a number of foreign objects were observed;
- non-compliance with mechanical, electrical and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (MEH) Alliance arrangements on cable and cable drum identification, which is key to the traceability of cables and cable drums; and
- non-compliance with the 5 stage Installation Work Order Card (IWOC) process where NNB GenCo was out of step with its own control measures.
In addition, several health and safety and housekeeping issues were identified during the site visit which required resolution.
The inspection team's preliminary findings were shared with, acknowledged, and accepted by NNB GenCo management as part of normal inspection feedback. The actions raised on NNB GenCo during the inspection are now complete.
Conclusion
This inspection was an early engagement with further inspections planned. At the time of the inspection, only a small number of cables had been pulled (less than 100) and given this, notwithstanding the areas for improvement identified, I consider the licensee’s arrangements for cable pulling operations are broadly adequate and that those arrangements are being implemented on site in a suitable and sufficient way. However, a number of targeted areas for improvement were identified during the inspection.
Consequently, a green rating was assigned to the inspection, with one level 4 regulatory issue (RI-12040) being raised to secure improvements in Installation Work Order Card process adherence.