Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Nuclear
LLC reports
Inspections
Routine Matters
Non Routine Matters
Regulatory Activity
The 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 A Power Station's Local Community Liaison Council (LCLC) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Hinkley Point A 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 questions raised there or subsequently by members of the LCLC. Alternatively, any other person wishing to enquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 951 4103.
The Site Inspector made the following visits to Hinkley Point "A" in the period covered by this report:
15th - 16th JanuaryThe site inspector had other meetings with Magnox Electric that were relevant to Hinkley Point on:
14th JanuaryDuring the site visits, NII's site inspector carried out planned sample inspections of the licensee's compliance with the conditions attached to the Site Licence and other relevant health and safety legislation. Where these inspections revealed that improvements to the site's arrangements were required, the site inspector raised them with the Station Manager and is regularly monitoring the Station's response.
As part of NII's planned inspections, the site inspector examined the licensee's arrangements for the recording and investigation of events on the station, and undertook independent investigations to the extent that was warranted by the significance of the event. In general he was content with how these matters had been progressed by the Company.
The report for Quarter 3 in 2002 reported that there was a need for a partial repeat emergency exercise following the Level 1 Exercise held last July. This was done on 21st January, as part of the regular programme of shift exercises, to demonstrate to NII that the aspects of the new structure have now bedded down.
Hinkley Point "A" has stopped generating electricity, is now defuelling its reactors, and preparing to start decommissioning. A key requirement arising from the above Regulations, for which NII on behalf of HSE is the competent authority, is that final decommissioning cannot start until HSE gives its consent to the licensee to carry out a decommissioning project. NII has reported previously on the receipt of an application for that consent, and on the issue of documents for public consultation. The consultation period ended on 30th June 2002.
A wide range of responses were received. HSE completed its initial assessment of the issues raised and concluded that some further information was required to support the application. This was provided by Magnox Electric in February. Public consultation on this further information was completed at the end of March.
The Chief Inspector visited Hinkley Point "A" on 24th January as part of his normal programme of visits.
In accordance with the NII policy to rotate site inspection postings regularly, Mr D Daniels replaced Mr A J Willetts as site inspector for Hinkley Point A on 1st April 2003.
The Inspectorate has powers under the Nuclear Site Licence to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. In addition, the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments (LI) to issue Specifications and Agreements under the conditions attached to the Site Licence. No Licence Instrument has been issued during this period.
The Inspectorate has monitored operational compliance with the defuelling safety case since its introduction last year. Although the minor changes were not classed as being of high safety significance, and would not normally have required Agreement from the Inspectorate, the Inspectorate chose to sample this proposed change as part of its ongoing compliance programme.
Published on the HSE web site 19 September 2003