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HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

NRTE VULCAN, at Dounreay

Quarterly report for 1 JULY 2005 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2005

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

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 Dounreay Stakeholders Group and covers activities associated with the regulation of nuclear safety at NRTE VULCAN. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend these meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there or subsequently by members at the time. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 - 951 - 4103.

This report will be put onto the HSE Website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm

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INSPECTIONS

Visits are made to the NRTE VULCAN, at Dounreay for the purpose of undertaking routine plant and project inspections or meeting site management or safety representatives. NII inspectors visited these sites during the quarter on the following dates:

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ROUTINE MATTERS

NII’s normal method of business is to inspect NRTE VULCAN 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 (IRRs), and the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR) 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.

Inspection topics covered during the above visits included:

  1. Attendance, with the MoD internal regulatory staff, at the Lone Star 05 exercise which demonstrated the emergency arrangements at the site. Overall the test was considered to be an adequate demonstration. However, there will be a short re-demonstration of certain aspects which were assessed as in need of improvement;
  2. Inspecting the active areas at DSMP 1, which included the arrangements for providing risk assessments for operations within the facility;
  3. Attending the regular on site meeting of the Vulcan Health, Safety, and Environment Committee;
  4. Inspecting the records of events reported, and corrective actions taken at the site;
  5. Inspecting the area, including the management arrangements, for receipt and decontamination of the Main Coolant Pumps brought in for servicing;

In general, the inspections indicated that the site staff are continuing to manage and control the activities in a satisfactory manner, and no significant issues were identified.

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NON-ROUTINE MATTERS

Nothing to report.

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REGULATORY ACTIVITY

The Inspectorate has taken no formal enforcement action on the Base during this period.

NRTE VULCAN Site Inspector
HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
22 October 2005