Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: June 2024
Aim of inspection
To gain assurance that Spent Fuel Services (SFS) is compliant with Sellafield Ltd’s arrangements, and hence the made arrangements, for: Licence Condition 11 (Emergency arrangements).
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC11 - Emergency arrangements - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
I undertook a Licence Condition (LC) 11 (Emergency arrangements) inspection at the Spent Fuel Services (SFS) Operating Unit at the Sellafield Site. The inspection focused on the adequacy of the implementation of Sellafield Limited’s arrangements made under the requirements of the nuclear site licence for LC11. The inspection primarily focussed on LC11(5) (Rehearsals) and LC11(6) (Instructions, Training and Equipment).
Overall, I found that a drills and exercise (rehearsals) programme at SFS is in place and is being delivered, with appropriate governance arrangements implemented. Personnel with emergency arrangements duties were demonstrated (on a sampling basis) to have been trained, and a plant walkdown found that equipment was serviceable and ready for use in an emergency with the incident control centre ready to operate. Several minor shortfalls were identified related to capturing learning from drills and exercises, and exercising new fault scenarios, however, I do not consider these shortfalls require formal regulatory action; I have instead provided regulatory advice to SFS. Consequently, and in accordance with ONR’s arrangements, I consider a rating of Green (no formal action) appropriate for this inspection.
Overall, I found that a drills and exercise (rehearsals) programme at SFS is in place and is being delivered, with appropriate governance arrangements implemented. Personnel with emergency arrangements duties were demonstrated (on a sampling basis) to have been trained, and a plant walkdown found that equipment was serviceable and ready for use in an emergency with the incident control centre ready to operate. Several minor shortfalls were identified related to capturing learning from drills and exercises, and exercising new fault scenarios, however, I do not consider these shortfalls require formal regulatory action; I have instead provided regulatory advice to SFS. Consequently, and in accordance with ONR’s arrangements, I consider a rating of Green (no formal action) appropriate for this inspection.
Conclusion
Overall, I found that SFS has a programme of drills and exercises in place and is delivering this programme. In relation to the drills and exercise programme, appropriate governance arrangements are in place. Evidence was seen that, for the sampled shift, personnel were trained for their emergency arrangements roles. Several minor shortfalls were identified in relation to inconsistently capturing actions related to shortfalls observed in the drills and exercise programme, one shift not being included in the practice drill programme, and formalising fault scenarios within the drills and exercise programme for new activities within B570. However, these shortfalls are minor and I have provided regulatory advice to SFS on the matters. Consequently, and in accordance with ONR’s arrangements, I consider a rating of Green (no formal action) appropriate for this inspection.