Band 3 Nuclear Inspector - Probalistic Safety Analysis

Directorate:

Nuclear Directorate

Location:

Merseyside, London & Cheltenham

Salary:

• More information about this role

What does PSA mean in ND?

Nuclear Directorate (ND) considers probabilistic safety analysis (PSA) to be an important part of the safety justification for a nuclear facility. PSA is not just a number crunching exercise to get a frequency of plant damage state or release of radioactivity. PSA provides very good insights into the robustness of a nuclear facility to a wide range of faults. It is complementary to deterministic safety analysis techniques and has a key role in determining the importance to safety of a facility's systems, structures and components.

Who do we need?

We are looking for experts who have experience in developing or assessing PSAs for either nuclear or other major hazard facilities. Experience in the use of software tools such as CAFTA, RiskSpectrum or Fault Tree+ would be an advantage. Knowledge in the application of a wide range of techniques such as Fault Tree, Event Tree, and Reliability Block Diagrams to either nuclear or major hazard facilities is required as is a good understanding of importance measures and the modelling of uncertainty. As well as providing guidance and advice in your specialism, you would need to be able lead on the technical assessment of PSA aspects of safety cases (with support from other specialist inspectors). Is that something you could take on? If so, send us your application.

Which areas are we interested in?

We are looking for people with a specialist knowledge of one (or more) of the following areas; specialists who can also take the lead on the overall assessment of a safety case; a case that could include aspects of several of the areas outlined below.

• Experience in the use of PSA techniques such as fault tree, event tree, Markov etc. to the safety assessment of nuclear facilities or other major hazard facilities (chemical process, offshore etc).
• Experience in the use of risk importance measures and uncertainty analysis to aid in assessing the robustness of a facility to a wide range of faults.
• The design and implementation of risk monitors for nuclear or major hazard facilities

The role of a NII inspector

Nuclear inspectors are expected to be capable of undertaking a variety of roles:

• inspecting sites;
• assessing technical safety cases;
• investigating incidents;
• enforcing the law and influencing improvement in safety cases;
• developing strategic approaches to secure high standards in the industry;
• managing nuclear research contracts etc.

The purpose of inspection is to secure and improve nuclear safety. The site inspector is the primary point of contact with the site and undertakes both planned and reactive inspections.

The site inspector also co-ordinates the inputs of other inspectors who assess safety submissions or manage discrete projects at particular sites. This is to ensure compliance, to reassure the public and to improve safety standards. When inspectors find something wrong they initially provide advice but may issue verbal and written warnings. The powers available to inspectors enable them to serve Enforcement Notices and ultimately initiate prosecutions. There are also a wide range of powers available under nuclear licence conditions.

The legislation covering the role includes:

• HSW Act 1974;
• NI Act 1965 (as amended) and the attached licence conditions;
• IRR 1999, REPPIR 2001, LOLER, PUWER.

Personal Requirements

Applicants must have:

• a good honours degree, or equivalent, in an appropriate scientific or engineering subject;
• corporate membership of a relevant professional institution;
• significant experience of working in responsible positions in the nuclear sector or other high hazard industry in design, construction, operation or safety appraisal in a safety case environment;
• preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a sound understanding of the current nuclear industry context and understanding of relevant principles and practices;
• a full driving licence that permits you to drive in the UK (this is essential). However, HSE is willing to consider any proposals put forward by disabled applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.

In addition to high technical ability and expertise your personal qualities are also important to us. Should you be invited for interview your abilities in the following areas will also be discussed and assessed:

• Sound judgement based on your knowledge and expertise, often in a pressurised environment;
• drive and determination, and ability to stay calm under pressure;
• an influential and persuasive approach to achieving objectives, emotionally resilient - able to get the job done in difficult circumstances;
• the ability to work as part of a team;
• ability to effectively plan, prioritise and be forward thinking good investigative ability, and initiative to generate appropriate research.

Our inspectors come from a variety of mainly nuclear or high-hazard-related backgrounds, but all demonstrate calm and poise when working under pressure in one of the most demanding jobs in the public sector.