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 Hinkley Point Local Community Liaison Council (LCLC) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Hinkley Point B Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend LCLC meetings and will be happy to respond to any questions raised there or subsequently by members of the LCLC. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151-951-4103.
The HMNII Site Inspector made the following planned visits during the period:
14 - 18 January 13 - 15 February 26 February - 1 March 19 - 22 MarchAnother visit was made during the period of this report by a Specialist Inspector carrying out work associated with the loading of the tendons on the reactor concrete pressure vessels.
Routine inspections have continued throughout the period to ensure that the site is operating in compliance with the conditions attached to the Nuclear Site Licence.
The management and recording of events which occurred on the station during the period were inspected. Most of these were relatively minor and those of concern to the HMNII Site Inspector were discussed with the appropriate company staff. HMNII was satisfied with the actions taken.
On 15/1/2002 a meeting was held with the Environmental Agency (EA) to discuss inspection work for the new year and matters of mutual interest.
On 26/2/2002 a meeting was held to discuss the work BEGL propose to undertake during the forthcoming outage of reactor 4 in September. BEGL agreed to consider the need for additional inspections suggested by HMNII.
On 28/2/2002 the Emergency Planning Consultative Meeting was attended. Revised terms of reference were proposed and these are being reviewed.
Following the Level 1 Emergency Exercise "BERNARD" on 5/12/2001, it was agreed that some improvements to the emergency arrangements would be made and HMNII would witness the exercising of these improvements. On 21/3/2002 HMNII agreed the scenario for an exercise planned for 2/7/2002 to cover this matter.
During 13-15/2/2002 an enhanced inspection of the arrangements covering the handling and investigation of events was undertaken. Good examples of conservative decision making were found and no major safety issues arose.
An enhanced inspection covering compliance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 was undertaken during 19-10/3/2002. Examples of good practice were evident and it was concluded that the station was compliant with the regulations.
A follow up inspection to that carried out in June 2001 on radioactive waste was undertaken jointly with EA during 20-21/3/2002. Satisfactory progress was being made in clearing our findings from the June inspection, however there was evidence that conditions in the Active Effluent Treatment Plant had deteriorated. The Station Director gave this latter matter his urgent attention.
On 31/1/2002 HMNII noted the remedial measures taken by BEGL, with respect to the Improvement Notice I/2001/nuclear/IDT/001 issued on 30/7/2001, and deemed the notice complied with. A meeting was held with BEGL on 27/3/2002 where BEGL demonstrated that good progress was being made in the development of arrangements which would result in live and user friendly safety cases.
The Inspectorate has powers under the Nuclear Site Licence to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. In addition, the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments to issue Specifications and Agreements under the conditions attached to the Site Licence.
No formal documents were issued during the quarter.
Published on the HSE web site 20 May 2002