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 Amersham plc, Grove Centre Local Liaison Committee (LLC) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at the site. 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.
Visits by the NII to the Grove Centre site were made on 20-22 January, 19?20 February and 15-17 March 2004.
Routine compliance inspection of plant was carried out to the inspection plan and the site inspector has inspected parts of the site. Particular attention has been paid to the compliance by the licensee with Licence Conditions 24 (Operating Instructions) and 25 (Operational Records). The fundamental requirements needed for compliance with both Licence Conditions were noted.
The annual meeting to discuss safety matters with the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Loescher, was held in March. The NII was represented by the Superintending Inspector and two Site Inspectors. Five main topic areas relevant to the Grove Centre were discussed:
Mr Loescher noted the points and said that safety had a high priority in Amersham plc.
Amersham plc has carried out an investigation into an event involving an individual carrying out an operation contrary to accepted practice. The investigation highlighted a number of deficiencies in operating instructions and control and supervision arrangements. Amersham plc has put forward recommendations to address these shortcomings. The site inspector has written to the Site Director requiring the site to provide a programme for completing the recommendations and also to reinforce with staff the principle of stopping work and seeking advice if a work problem is encountered. Amersham plc has since submitted a satisfactory programme to NII.
Following the announcement in October 2003 that General Electric of America had made an offer to take over Amersham plc, NII considered the potential need to relicense Amersham's sites. NII's conclusion is that the General Electric acquisition would not in itself necessitate the relicensing of the sites. However, any future changes to organisational structure or resources which may affect safety will be subject to Site Licence Condition 36 control.
No statutorily reportable radiological incidents have been notified to the NII this quarter.
No legal instruments were issued during the quarter.
Published on the HSE web site 16 June 2004