Date(s) of inspection:
- October 2024
Executive summary
Aim of inspection
To demonstrate the adequacy of the October 2024 Level 1 rehearsal of emergency arrangements on the AWE Aldermaston Site against the requirements of LC11 and the regulatory expectations provided within ONR’s guidance NS-INSP-GD-001.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC11 - Emergency arrangements - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
Purpose of intervention
AWE Aldermaston conducted its Level 1 site safety demonstration exercise on 8 Oct 2024. The purpose of this intervention was for ONR to assess the adequacy of AWE’s annual Level 1 safety demonstration against the relevant requirements of LC11 and the regulatory expectations provided within ONR’s guidance NS-INSP-GD-011.
This activity also forms part of delivering Key Regulatory Objective 5 of the ONR Weapons Sub-Division Strategy to "provide assurance to our stakeholders that hazardous activities on site are planned and conducted safely in accordance with the appropriate legislative requirements and that all risks have been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable".
Key findings, Inspector's opinions and reasons for judgements made
ONR, Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR), Defence Security Regulator and Environment Agency (EA) inspectors observed the annual Level 1 safety demonstration exercise on the AWE Aldermaston site. This observation focused on command and control, casualty management and recovery, and other practical aspects of the incident response. The observers were located at the incident scene, the forward control centre, and within the emergency operations control centre.
Overall ONR considers that the areas observed provided adequate demonstration of AWE's emergency arrangements against the requirements of LC11 and that relevant good practice (as provided within ONR's guidance document NS-INSP-GD-011) was generally met.
Conclusion of intervention
Overall, I consider that this exercise was an adequate demonstration of AWE's emergency arrangements against the requirements of LC11 and that relevant good practice (as provided within ONR's guidance document NS-INSP-GD-011) was generally met. On this basis in accordance with the inspection rating guidance in ONR Guide ONR-INSP-GD-064, I conclude that an inspection rating of GREEN is appropriate.
Conclusion
Based on ONR, DNSR, Defence Security Regulator and EA observations at the locations attended, I consider that AWE adequately demonstrated its relevant arrangements across the areas sampled. i.e. the demonstration exercise provided evidence of adequate implementation of AWE's emergency arrangements at the Aldermaston site, against the requirements of LC11 and relevant good practice as provided within ONR's guidance document NS-INSP-GD-011.
On this basis in accordance with the inspection rating guidance in ONR Guide ONR-INSP-GD-064, I consider that an inspection rating of GREEN is appropriate.