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Bilfinger - Inspection ID: 53473

Executive summary

Date(s) of inspection: January 2025

Aim of inspection

The Energy Act (2013) establishes ONR as the Enforcing Authority for section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA74). One of the methods ONR utilises to exercise it Enforcing Authority responsibility is to conduct inspections of companies in the GB nuclear supply chain. These inspections are known as vendor inspections (VIs), and ONR coordinates these via the annual VI programme.
 
The purpose of this vendor inspection (VI) was to sample the adequacy of Bilfinger's arrangements, established in its management system, for the supply of nuclear safety related items or services to the GB nuclear industry. It is noted that these arrangements have previously been sampled (IR-52952), and this inspection will primarily focussed on Bilfinger's resolution of RI-12016 which was raised following the original inspection.

Subject(s) of inspection

  • Health & Safety at Work Act, Section 6 (General duties of manufacturers) - Rating: Green

Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made

The inspection findings were as follows:
 

  • Following the initial Vendor Inspection (IR-52952), Bilfinger undertook a self-assessment and subsequently generated an improvement plan which was overseen by an ONR Regulatory Issue.

  • The improvement plan has been maintained by Bilfinger and periodically shared with ONR.

  • The Bilfinger non-conformance system has been used to manage the improvement plan. Within the improvement plan there is evidence to demonstrate how the individual actions have been addressed. In all instances, the evidence is comprehensive and readily available.

  • For a number of the actions, the responses have been incorporated into routine activities and will require periodic reinforcement e.g. the Nuclear Safety Culture principles to maintain and enhance a consistent culture across all locations.

  • A number of initiatives outside the scope of the improvement plan are also being pursued e.g. the alignment of the management system to the principles of ISO 19443, with the intent to obtain certification.

  • Areas for improvement were observed in the written arrangements for specific tasks e.g. non-conformance management and the management of quarantined items, and these need to be addressed by Bilfinger.
     

The inspection team's preliminary findings were shared with, acknowledged, and accepted by Bilfinger management as part of normal inspection feedback.

Conclusion

Based on the evidence sampled, Bilfinger have adequately addressed the actions contained within their self-assessment improvement plan. As a result, there has been an improvement in the integration, clarity and completeness of Bilfinger's management systems and quality management arrangements. Therefore, a GREEN rating has been assigned to the inspection. 

The minor areas for improvement identified during the inspection do not warrant a new regulatory issue and will be progressed through future interactions with Bilfinger.