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 on 0151-951-3484/3290
This report will be placed on the HSE website at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm under “Local Liaison Committee Reports”.
The site inspector visited the site on five occasions during the quarter:
17th to 20th January
3rd February
14th to 16th February
14th to 17th March
21st to 22nd March
In addition specialist NII inspectors visited the site during the period to assist with inspections related to their areas of expertise – mechanical engineering, civil engineering and industrial safety.
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 event reporting (LC7), industrial safety, emergency planning (LC 11), control of operations (LC23), and periodic shutdown (LC30).
In general the station’s arrangements were found to be satisfactory. In those areas where improvements were identified, satisfactory commitments to address the issues were made by the station. Routine aspects of particular significance are summarised below:
Risk assessment for industrial safety
In response to requests from NII, Hartlepool has developed an improved risk assessment process for industrial safety. This reached a trial stage during March and was inspected by the site inspector and NII’s specialist industrial safety inspector. The inspection concluded that the new process was a significant improvement and appeared to provide an effective process. It is anticipated that the revised process will be rolled out across BE.
Exercise Phoenix
Exercise Phoenix was held in March, as a result of a need to demonstrate improved arrangements for command and control in the emergency control centre identified during exercise ZooZoo in 2005. Unfortunately there were still significant deficiencies in this aspect, and BE agreed to write to NII with proposed improvements before a further redemonstration before the end of June 2006.
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. More noteworthy events during the period include the following:
Un-planned dose to painter in the Active Maintenance Facility
An individual working in the Active Maintenance Facility (while it was out of service) in January was alerted to a high dose rate in the area he was painting by his electronic personal dose meter. Although the dose was very small the site inspector investigated the event as it reflected a significant failure of the station’s arrangements under the Ionising Radiations Regulations. The site inspector concluded that the improvements and actions identified by the station’s own investigation were appropriate, and advised the station that NII would rigorously monitor the outcome of the longer term actions.
Corroded cable tray supports in turbine hall tunnels
The station identified a concern regarding corrosion of a large number of cable tray supports, supporting cables for safety related equipment, during February. NII were concerned that there was insufficient rigour in some aspects of the proposed justification and the station effectively addressed the issue by repairing all the affected supports, thereby restoring the original design intent. NII will continue to ensure that a more effective maintenance regime is adopted in future.
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.
The Inspectorate has powers under the Licence to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. In addition the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments to issue Specifications and Agreements under the conditions of the Licence. These are all called Licence Instruments. No Licence Instruments were issued to Hartlepool during the quarter.
HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate 8th June 2006
St Peter’s House
Stanley Precinct
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 3LZ