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 Dungeness Power Stations’ Site Stakeholder Group (SSG) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Dungeness A Nuclear Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly and are also available on the HSE’s web site. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate attend SSG meetings and will respond to questions raised there by members of the SSG. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report may contact the HSE’s Nuclear Directorate on 0151 951 3484/3290. This report will be put onto the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/llc/index.htm
Nuclear Directorate
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) Site Inspector visited Dungeness A during the quarter. Inspections were made on the following days:
Routine inspections are undertaken for the purpose of monitoring compliance with (i) the conditions attached by HSE to the nuclear site licences, and (ii) other relevant provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, including the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
HSE spent considerable effort on the preparations for reactor defuelling and safeguards to ensure safe and permanent shutdown of the reactors.
In this period routine inspections covered:
HSE have reviewed plans to maintain the civil structures on site.
Following the permanent shut down of both reactors in December 2006 defuelling and decommissioning are the main activities. At HSE’s request, Magnox are preparing improved safety assessments for the defuelling and decommissioning operating phases. HSE believe these will significantly enhance safety assurance.
Plans to defuel the two reactors may be delayed by problems with the evaporators at Sellafield which have affected their ability to accept the spent Magnox fuel.
Decommissioning activities planned for 2007/8 are being reviewed in the light of possible funding constraints.
Following cessation of generation, the Station are proposing reduced manning for emergencies. HSE have observed a further shift exercise with the new arrangements and noted improved results. It is anticipated that changes to the emergency manning will be proposed by the station in Autumn 2007.
As part of its regulation under nuclear site licences, NII issues regulatory documents, collectively termed Licence Instruments.
An Operating Rule suspension to permit all control rods to be inserted, isolated and immobilised has been Agreed.
An Operating Rule change to extend the operating envelope of the pressure vessel in preparation for post generation activities has been Approved.
Under Health and Safety legislation the Site Inspector, or other HSE Inspectors, may issue formal notices to secure improvements to safety. No such notices were issued during the reporting period.