The purpose of my visit was in support of the forthcoming Hartlepool Reactor 2 2013 statutory outage (intervention IPR NGL - 066: TRIM 2012/431952) required under Licence Condition 30(1) – Periodic Shutdown. My intervention focused on improvement work currently underway at Hartlepool power station on Class 1 maintenance facilities and around preparatory maintenance and overhaul work ahead of the outage. A further in-outage site visit will be carried out during the 2013 Reactor 2 outage period.
The inspection also supports the intervention to improve the working standards in EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited’s (NGL) Class 1 maintenance facilities (intervention IPR NGL – 080. TRIM: 2012/13273).
During my intervention I looked at the following Class 1 maintenance facilities inspecting against Licence Condition 28(1) – Examination. Inspection, maintenance and testing:
The intervention was carried out by two Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Mechanical Specialist Inspectors.
Since the previous ONR inspection of the maintenance facilities in 2010 further progress has been made in the improvement of Foreign Material Exclusions (FME) arrangements within the Class 1 maintenance facilities, however I note that certain facilities are further along the process than others.
During my site visit I found no issues within the GCMF that would cause me to question the serviceability or safety of the units overhauled in the facility; I do however believe further improvements are needed to meet relevant good practice. The Technical Advice Group (TAG) Head agreed that more work could and is being done in the GCMF, however this is balanced against other plant improvements. It was my opinion that the TAG Head had a good understanding of the problems within the GCMF which had yet to be resolved and was motivated to improve arrangements.
The new storage area for the emergency pond cooling water equipment is well maintained with good housekeeping standards. I am satisfied with the arrangements used for the storage of equipment in this area.
The level of housekeeping and general FME arrangements within the new North End C2 Maintenance Facility appears to be good with mature processes in place for tool control. I note however there are still areas which can be improved, specifically the clear identification on work instructions, or equivalent, as to which tasks require the application of FME ‘High’ controls rather than relying on individuals’ knowledge.
The work controls and FME arrangements in place within the CRMMR appear to be the most mature in terms of implementation and are considered to provide a benchmark for other facilities. A strong challenging attitude and sense of ownership of the area is also evident in the technicians working in the CRMMR.
A number of actions were raised as a result of this intervention; these have been shared with the station and added to the ONR Site Inspector’s action tracker.
I consider a rating of ‘Adequate’ to be appropriate for the various aspects covered by the intervention with the exception of the CRMMR for which a rating of ‘Good Standard’ is appropriate.
Based the inspections I have carried out during this site visit in the GCMF, C2 work shop and the CRMMR I have seen no evidence of issues that would affect nuclear or conventional safety.
I recommend that a further inspection be carried out for the GCMF when the facility is being used to undertake the strip down and maintenance of the GCs exchanged during the forthcoming outage on Reactor 2.