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 and are available also from the Internet at www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm. 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 to any questions raised by members of the LCLC. Any person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE’s, Nuclear Directorate on 0151-951-3484/3290.
The site inspector visited the site on six occasions during the quarter:
In addition, specialist NII inspectors visited the site during the period to assist with inspections related to their areas of expertise in civil and mechanical engineering.
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 training (LC10), emergency arrangements (LC11), duly authorised and other suitably qualified and experienced persons (LC12), modification to existing plant (LC22), operating instructions (LC24), control and supervision of operations (LC26), and control of organisational change (LC36).
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:
Following the letter sent to the station and described in the last report, a response has been received indicating that improved arrangements to inspect and test fire dampers will be introduced in the next financial year. Following advice from specialist colleagues, the site inspector is content with this response.
The annual review meeting was held on 30 November. The meeting considered a report prepared by the station, which reviewed activities over the last 12 months and gave commitments to improve specific activities in the forthcoming period. The Superintending Inspector for British Energy reactors inspection has subsequently written confirming he was content with the scope of the meeting and seeking regular reviews of progress against the commitments given.
The inspection on 16th November was to accompany the Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations and a Commissioner of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Both senior regulators commended the improvements to the plant in specific areas, but noted that extending these improvements to other areas, and maintaining the standards achieved will be an ongoing challenge.
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. No noteworthy events occurred during this reporting period.
The event occurred on 26th September. A buried cast iron cooling water main fractured close to the Turbine Hall and Reactor Building. The resulting liquefaction of the soil around the supply main damaged services local to the pipe including electrical and other cooling water pipes. Both reactors were shutdown at the time and the alternative mains provided sufficient quantities of cooling water.
Investigations into the cause of the failure were completed and the failure was sentenced as due to subsidence that created high localised stress in the pipe. The supports to surrounding services were made good, both temporarily, and in the long term. To minimise the possibility of further localised failures, the failure site was bypassed with an interim overland steel main laid between suitable access points. Once the normal cooling configuration was re-established, NII was content that the reactors could be restarted. The safety case for restart committed to the installation of full length replacement overland cooling water mains within 18 months.
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
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS