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 Hartlepool Local Community Liaison Council and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Hartlepool Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (part of the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Directorate) attend LCLC meetings and will be happy to respond there to questions raised by members of the LCLC. Any person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 951 4103.
The site inspector visited the site on four occasions during the quarter:
14th to 16th January
9th to 13th February
4th to 5th March
15th to 19th March
In addition specialist NII inspectors visited the site during the period to assist with inspections related to their expertise - structural integrity and protection against internal hazards.
As part of their routine work NII inspectors inspect for compliance against the requirements of the Station's Nuclear Site Licence, the Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant safety legislation. They monitor events, plant operations, projects, modifications and safety case changes and any other matters which are important to safety. Planned inspections during the quarter included:
In general the station's arrangements were found to be satisfactory, with a commitment to accommodate the improvements identified.
The Inspectorate has continued to monitor the station's approach to demonstrating the adequacy of the safety case for cast iron cooling water systems. During the quarter a strategy of inspection, assessment and prioritised replacement was adopted by the station. The Inspectorate has continued to scrutinise this in detail to ensure that safety remains adequately demonstrated whilst modifications are in progress.
Following further degradation the duct has now been repaired. The site inspector is awaiting the station's response to his letter of 16th September 2003 regarding future maintenance of this and similar ducts.
The site inspector has continued to monitor the station's
adoption of the WMP processes, in particular issues related to the
total exposure module, which is intended to ensure that workers are
kept safe from potential radiation exposure. Many improvements have
been initiated but others are delayed, partly by lack of response
from the BE corporate centre. The site inspector has summarised
remaining concerns in writing during the quarter and is actively
pursuing resolution of the outstanding issues.
Management Restructuring
British Energy have announced changes in the station structure in order to improve operational focus and the management of work, and to allow system engineers to focus more effectively on the performance of the systems on the plant. Many of the changes are in response to findings from WANO activities. Further changes are expected as BE rolls out its new Performance Improvement Project. The changes potentially have a beneficial effect on safety on the stations. NII will continue to monitor the implementation of the changes so as to be satisfied that BE is correctly managing nuclear safety related aspects.
As part of their planned inspection site inspectors examine safety related events that have occurred and the Licensee's response to them. Generally the Licensee's internal system for following up events is robust and the appropriate actions are implemented. The site inspector investigated several events in detail, all of which have been appropriately dealt with by the station and there are none to raise in particular in this report.
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. During the reporting period there were two Agreements issued:
Approval 45, allowing the station to install bursting discs on gas relief valve filter housings and
Approval 46, allowing cross-licensee working between BEGL and BEG(UK)L.
Published on the HSE web site 31 August 2004
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