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 Hunterston A Power Station Local Liaison Committee and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Hunterston A Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate attend LLC meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there 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 The Site Inspector made three inspection visits to Hunterston A during the period April to June. The visits were on:
23 - 26 April
14 - 16 May
17 - 19 June
Routine inspection has continued, matters arising have been identified directly to the appropriate members of staff and to the Decommissioning Site Manager for action to be taken.
Inspections completed this quarter, under the IES regime included ones against Licence Conditions, 17 (Quality Assurance), 23 (Operating Rules), 24 (Operating Instructions) and 27 (Safety Mechanisms). In addition, Licence Conditions 9 (Instructions to Persons on Site), 10 (Training) and 26 (Control and Supervision of Operations) were inspected in respect of the management and the safety of contractors. The outcome of the inspections was generally satisfactory although a number of improvements were identified, e.g. improved cross-referencing and linking of systems and procedures. These have been actioned through the Decommissioning Site Manager as part of the ongoing improvement programme and their progress will be monitored by NII.
Previous inspections of Licence Condition 22 (Modification or Experiment on existing Plant) found poor closure of the modification process. NII requested that improvements be made and the steps that have been taken by the site were found, by inspection, to have been effective in addressing the immediate problem and providing a long-term solution.
The management structure of the site was formally changed during the quarter. The change was undertaken in compliance with Licence Condition 36 arrangements, with a good audit trail for transfer of duties and responsibilities, and supported by measures to update procedures, and post and training profiles.
The review of emergency arrangements and casualty recovery required by NII following the exercise has been completed. Revision of the site contingency and the emergency arrangements are being developed in the light of the conclusions of the review.
The Licensee has provided NII a review of the site safety case in compliance with arrangements under Licence Condition 15 (Periodic Review).
There have been a number of incidents on site all but one is regarded as minor in respect of nuclear safety.
The exception, which NII examined, involved the passage of contaminated silt, which resulted from a historic failure of the site discharge line, from the licensed site via the land drains. Work to recover the silt was agreed by HSE under regulation 6 of the Ionising Radiation Regulations and a long-term solution is being put in place. NII have looked into the event and consider that no further regulatory action is required.
A new fire certificate was issued to the site in May following completion of the work required to bring the site up to modern standards. The means of modifying and maintaining the certificate and attached drawings in accordance with the regulations has been discussed and procedures agreed.
The Inspectorate has power under the 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 Licence. NII agreed, Licence Instrument G1, to the proposal made by BNFL to change the management structure of the company.
Published on the HSE web site 3 December 2002