Case study: Ensuring good governance

Background

When HSE Nuclear Directorate considers an application for a nuclear site licence, it seeks evidence that the prospective licensee provides an acceptable technical safety case, that the site is suitable and also that it has the organisational capability to manage nuclear safety.

Assessing organisational capability requires a close look at leadership, structures, resources and management arrangements. This is checked throughout the duration of a licence, particularly when an existing licensee wishes to change site boundaries or their activities and needs to re-licence.

Issue

Recently, Urenco’s Capenhurst fuel enrichment facility, undertook a significant reorganisation and applied for a replacement licence. HSE ND needed confidence that Urenco was managing these changes effectively and that it was ready to be relicensed.

The assessment of licensee organisational capability was led by HSE’s Licensing, Leadership and Managing for Safety team, drawing upon four key safety assessment principles (leadership; capable organisation; decision-making and learning from experience), which set the foundation for delivery of nuclear safety.

The team works closely with site inspectors to gather and assess information about organisational capability, a licensee’s ability to manage safety and whether it can manage organisational change effectively.

What we did

Led by specialist inspector Debbie Fisher, HSE ND conducted a joint inspection with colleagues from co-regulator, the Environment Agency.

"The inspection was productive, and was positively supported by Urenco," explained Debbie. "We found some examples of good practice but we also identified areas where improvements were needed.

"For example, we found that Urenco needed to bolster its resources for independent inspection and to reinforce what we call its ‘intelligent customer’ capability; which is understanding, managing and receive the work of its contractors," added Debbie.

"It also needed to improve processes for managing organisational change and the way it learns from operating experience."

HSE ND worked closely with Urenco to help develop its understanding of these issues, and facilitated learning from good practice elsewhere in the industry by assisting Urenco in visits to other licensee sites.

Outcomes and benefits

"The results are encouraging," said Debbie. "The licensee responded positively, putting in place a forward programme of work to address the issues. We have already seen a range of improvements secured, including provision of an independent challenge function and recruitment of additional staff to better deliver corporate functions."

Urenco is continuing to further improve its arrangements with the support and advice of HSE ND.

• For more information on our safety assessment protocols (SAPs)