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:
7 - 9 October 18 - 22 November 2 - 6 DecemberA Specialist Inspector visited the site during the quarter to discuss the inspection results associated with the statutory outage of reactor 4 (R4).
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.
The R4 Start Up Meeting was held on 8/10/2002 where the results from the reactor's statutory outage, together with information on station operations since the Safety Review Meeting on 18/4/2002, were considered. HMNII was satisfied with the information provided by BEGL and a Consent was granted on 18/10/2002 to allow the restart of R4.
On 9/10/2002 the Emergency Exercise Review Meeting was held with staff from the Station and the British Energy Emergency Planning Group. The scenario for the forthcoming Level 1 Exercise "BOND" was agreed.
The Level 1 Emergency Exercise "BOND" was held on 4/12/2002 to demonstrate the effectiveness of the arrangements, produced by the Station under Licence Condition 11, to deal with nuclear emergencies. A team from HMNII witnessed the exercise and judged that the exercise was an adequate demonstration of the emergency arrangements.
As part of the EA consultation process, HMNII wrote to EA expressing an interest in the proposals for sea defences that affect the site. The safety case implications of the proposals were discussed with the Station.
The Station provided draft proposals on the development of a living, user friendly Station safety case. The proposals represent a good start and HMNII will continue to progress this topic.
The Station has also introduced improved arrangements, under Licence Condition 15, for regularly reviewing the operation of systems against the Station safety case.
Discussions were held with Station staff on the contingency plans put in place to deal with strike action that could affect the site. HMNII was satisfied with the plans.
A Specification was issued under Licence Condition 36 requesting the Station to submit the high level arangements, put in place to comply with Licence Condition 36, for Approval. HMNII was satisfied with these arrangements and an Approval was issued. Any alteration or amendment to these arrangements will now require a further Approval by HMNII.
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.
was issued on 11/10/2002. The Specification covered the high level arrangements made under Licence Condition 36.
was issued on 18/10/2002. The Consent permitted the start up of R4 following it's statutory outage.
was issued on 23/12/2002. The Approval covered the high level arrangements made under Licence Condition 36.
Published on the HSE web site 12 February 2003