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:
23 - 24 January 2003
10 - 13 February 2003
19, 20 and 31 March 2003.
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.
In this period, the following matters in particular have been addressed:
a. Attending the final planning meeting for exercise Evening Star 03.b. Witnessing the demonstration of the emergency arrangements at exercise Evening Star 03, on 12 February. The Arrangements were considered to be satisfactory but some learning points were raised for consideration. The demonstration was also attended by the internal regulators of the MoD.
c. Attendance, and presentation at the Faslane LLC on 18 February.
d. The training of staff to comply with IRRs, the standards were assessed to be satisfactory.
e. Emergency response arrangements and training. The off site arrangements were discussed with Mrs E Steele as part of REPPIR compliance. The training of Naval Base staff was considered to be comprehensive, although the records were not completely up to date. This has subsequently been addressed.
Also, a acquaintance visit was carried out to a submarine in maintenance alongside, which was of considerable value.The studies currently being undertaken on ways of reducing radiation doses to workers from the cleaning of submarine reactor compartments following maintenance work, will be inspected in the next quarter.
The new Site Inspector had a successful acquaintance and familiarisation visit, prior to taking up his duties.
The NII held a further 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 the good liaison continues between the Base staff and the Council officers, and that the plan was in an advanced state of preparation.
The Inspectorate has taken no formal enforcement action on the Base during this period.
Published on the HSE web site 28 May 2003