Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Nuclear
LLC reports
This report is issued as part of the Health and Safety Executive's commitment to make information about inspection and regulatory activities relating to the above site available to the public. It is for distribution to members of the Clyde Local Liaison Committee and covers activities associated with the regulation of nuclear safety at HM Naval Base Clyde. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend LLC meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there or subsequently by members of the LLC. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 - 951 - 4103.
1. Visits are made to the Base for the purpose of undertaking routine plant and project inspections or meeting site management or safety representatives. NII inspectors visited Faslane and Coulport during the quarter as follows:
22 - 24 October 200220 - 21 November 2002
2. NII's normal method of business is to inspect the Clyde Base in accordance with a planned inspection programme and to discuss any matters arising with site staff. Inspections are undertaken for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the relevant provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974) including the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 at the two sites.
Meetings are also held routinely to discuss matters that affect the continued safe operation of the base. Discussions are also held with the Ministry of Defence Regulator, on matters of mutual interest.
3. In this period, the following matters in particular have been discussed:
a. Arrangements for reporting incidents and events.b. Management of facility operations and maintenance within the Base.
c. Instrument testing
d. Radiography controls and supervision
e. Emergency response arrangements and training.
f. Off-site emergency arrangements.
Also, a visit was carried out to a submarine in maintenance alongside, which was of considerable value.
4. The NII held discussions with the Base staff on studies currently being undertaken on ways of reducing radiation doses to workers from the cleaning of submarine reactor compartments following maintenance work. The Base have arranged trials to be carried out on different methods of working which will be evaluated during the forthcoming visits.
5. A meeting was held to discuss planned improvements to monitoring equipment and calibration sources issued to submarines. Good progress has been made reassessing the operational requirement and a programme of providing updated equipment is scheduled for 2003.
6. An inspection was carried out of the control and supervision of industrial radiography in the Base including on board a submarine undergoing maintenance. The inspection included examination of records and operator procedures. An inspection of a radiography procedure of steam pipework in the Main Machinery Space (Engine Room) of a submarine was carried out to verify the safety arrangements for the operation. The work was considered to be well controlled and safely conducted. The safety precautions taken to ensure the area was evacuated prior to exposure were effective..
7. The NII held a meeting with the Argyll and Bute Emergency Planning Manager, to discuss the provision of the Off Site emergency arrangements to meet the REPPIR. It was found that good liaison exists between the Base staff and the Council officers, and the plan was in an advanced state of preparation.
8. The Inspectorate has taken no formal enforcement action on the base during this period.
Published on the HSE web site 14 April 2003