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 Devonport Local Liaison Committee and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Devonport Royal Dockyard and HM Naval Base. These reports are distributed quarterly. The Site Inspector of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate attends LLC meetings and will be happy to respond to any questions raised there by members. Any other person wishing to enquire about matters covered by this report may contact HSE's Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 951 4103.
Inspections on site were made on the following days:
7 - 10 January
14 - 18 January
28 - 31 January
11 - 15 February
20 - 22 February
4 - 7 March
15 - 16 March
18 - 22 March
A total of 13 NII Inspectors, including the Chief Inspector and one of the Deputy Chief Inspectors, visited Devonport during this quarter spending a total of 83 days on site. In addition, the Director General of the HSE visited site on 15 February.
Inspections are undertaken for the purposes of monitoring compliance with the conditions attached by HSE to the nuclear site licence, together with other relevant statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974).
During this period, inspections have concentrated on activities associated with the readiness inspections of 9 Dock in anticipation of the arrival of HMS Vanguard in early 2002, the preparation of 14 Dock for the defuelling of HMS Valiant or generally for activities across the site. Particular attention has been paid to compliance by the licensee with licence condition 7, (relating to the recording, reporting and investigation of events), 10, (relating to training), 11, (relating to emergency arrangements), 12, (relating to the qualifications and experience of those carrying out safety related tasks), 21, (relating to commissioning), 23, (the requirement to have an adequate safety case and such operating rules as this calls for), 24, (the requirement to carry out safety related activities in accordance with written instructions), 25, (the requirement for operational records), 26, (the control and supervision of specified activities), 27, (relating to the availability of safety mechanisms) and 28, (the requirement for maintenance arrangements). The findings were generally considered adequate but areas for improvement were identified which were communicated to the licensee for action. Compliance with Licence Condition 28 was considered to fall below the standards expected and an Improvement Notice was served on the licensee, Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited, in April.
Compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations, with respect to work being carried out on HMS Vanguard was inspected. Whilst this was considered to be generally adequate, a number of suggestions for improvements were made which the licensee is considering.
Discussions took place with the licensee regarding the production and adequacy of submissions required for compliance with these regulations.
Much of NII's effort at Devonport continues to be spent on the inspection and assessment of the following major projects:
Inspections were carried out of the improvements to 14 Dock to allow the defuelling of HMS Valiant. This work is proceeding well.
The programme for the provision of the TSSBN Facilities at Devonport continues to be very challenging and not all of the proposed facilities were completed before HMS Vanguard arrived in early 2002. Nevertheless, NII deemed that sufficient work had been completed by the licensee to enable the submarine to be brought onto the licensed site and docked down and permission was given for this to take place. Further phases of the refit will only be permissioned when NII is satisfied that the proposed activities have been adequately justified.
None in relation to the licensed site.
There were no non-routine matters dealt with during the period.
As part of its regulation under the nuclear site licence NII issues formal regulatory documents, which include Consents, Approvals, Acknowledgements, Specifications and Notifications.
During this quarter NII:
Inspections on site were made on the following days:
15 January
22 January
6 March
Two NII inspectors visited HM Naval Base during this quarter spending a total of two days on the base.
MoD activities, at HM Naval Base and Devonport Royal Dockyard, are inspected under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974), the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations, (REPPIR), and the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999.
No specific inspections relating to this topic were carried out during the period.
Discussions have been held with MoD to determine the nature and scope of the forthcoming emergency exercise Kismet 02 which has been postponed until July 2002.
Discussions took place with MoD regarding the production and adequacy of submissions required for compliance with these regulations.
Two public meetings were attended on 22 January. These were held in relation to the use of HMS Courageous, as an exhibit to which the public will be allowed access. HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is content that radiation doses to visitors to the submarine will not present any significant health or safety risks.
No formal enforcement activities were carried out by HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate during the period covered by this report.
Published on the HSE web site 8 July 2002