Case study: Influencing improvements

Background

A key aim of HSE Nuclear Directorate is to minimise hazard. As they age, facilities can present an increasing risk and influencing licensees to invest in improvements at the right time is a priority.

Issue

The UK’s atomic weapons facility in Burghfield, operated by licensee, AWE, is a prime example where sustained engagement between HSE Nuclear Directorate and the licensee has led to a major investment which will see two large construction projects take place.

The projects combined are a major undertaking, which brings challenges to HSE’s Nuclear Directorate in terms of resourcing the assessment, inspection and re-licensing activity required.

What we did

"This is where programme working will come into its own," explained Steve Bithell, site inspector for AWE Burghfield. "Across HSE ND we’re implementing a different way of working which will help us to utilise our expertise and resources more effectively, across all of our programmes from submarines to power stations and atomic weapons facilities."

All this comes at a challenging time for both the licensee and HSE, with new nuclear power station build and other large engineering projects, for example construction of the 2012 Olympic sites underway. "It’s a busy time for both us and the licensee," added Steve.

Outcomes and benefits

"Working smarter though means that we’ll also be able to demonstrate how we work as a modern regulator, co-operating with the Environment Agency, the MOD Nuclear Safety Regulator and other parts of HSE, including colleagues looking after safety in conventional construction and explosives specialists in the Hazardous Industries Directorate.

"That’s important, because with so many regulators involved, you could end up with contradictory instructions, which would be hugely inefficient and potentially contradictory to our mutual aim of ensuring safety," he added.
"Thankfully though, we all work rather well together."