HSE regulates the nuclear industry through its Nuclear Directorate (ND). The Directorate's primary goal is to ensure that those it regulates have no major nuclear accidents. It is responsible for the UK safety regulation of nuclear power stations, nuclear chemical plants, decommissioning, defence nuclear facilities, nuclear safety research and strategy and since 02 April 2007 for civil nuclear operational security and safeguards matters.
Nuclear is a diverse major hazards industry with a legacy of nuclear technology development that currently contributes approximately 25% of the UK’s electricity needs and provides the country with its strategic defence requirements.
Through its own regulation and in partnership with other regulators and agencies, ND aims to deliver a substantial reduction in nuclear industry precursor incidents, which are occurrences having the potential to lead to an accident and seeks to meet HSC’s continuing aim to “work to prevent catastrophic failures in industries which have the potential to cause significant harm.” ND also takes responsibility for approving security arrangements within the industry, and for securing compliance with those arrangements. It also oversees safeguard measures to verify that States comply with their international obligations not to use nuclear materials for nuclear explosives purposes.
"To protect people and society from the hazards of the nuclear industry."
