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 Clyde Local Liaison Committee and covers activities associated with the regulation of nuclear safety at HM Naval Base Clyde.
Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (part of the Health and Safety Executive’s Nuclear Directorate) normally attend LLC meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there or subsequently by members of the LLC. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE’s, Nuclear Safety Directorate on 0151-951-4103.
Visits are made to the HM Naval Base Clyde for the purpose of undertaking routine plant and project inspections or meeting site management or safety representatives. The Base consists of two sites at Faslane and Coulport. HSE-NII inspectors visited these sites during the quarter as follows:
29 January 2007
14 February 2007
8 March 2007
27 to 29 March 2007
HSE-NII’s normal method of business is to inspect HM Naval Base Clyde 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.
On 29 January, the Site Inspector visited the Clyde Off-Site Centre to attend the all agency post exercise meeting to discuss matters arising from the off site response during demonstration exercise SHORT SERMON in October 2006. There were no significant issues outstanding.
On 8 March, the Site Inspector attended the Clyde Local Liaison Committee meeting.
Between 27 and 29 March, the Site Inspector visited the Faslane Site. During his visit he followed up t wo recent radiological incidents on site and reviewed the associated investigation work and identification of learning opportunities completed by the Naval Base . One incident did result in 2 workers suffering a small degree of surface skin contamination which was detected by primary monitoring and subsequently removed. However HSE-NII expects high standards of radiological safety performance to be maintained and our inquiries confirmed shortfalls in the Naval Base’s safe systems of work and behavioural safety performance. It was noted that the above issues are to be covered within a Naval Base Safety Culture Improvement Plan and HSE-NII will monitor delivery of that plan.
As previously reported a redemonstration of the relevant areas of the on-site emergency plan will take place in May 2007 and HSE-NII followed up progress in this area. The Naval Base stated that the learning points from the Short Sermon exercise were being addressed and arrangements for the redemonstration on site were at an advanced stage. Although we noted at the time of our inspection a number of issues remained to be addressed, the Naval Base provided assurance that all the necessary improvements would in place for the redemonstration exercise.
The secondary monitoring trial has been completed and a report should be sent to HSE-NII in the near future.
A meeting was held to discuss the proposal to delay construction of a replacement Radwaste Facility. The Naval Base noted the regulatory concerns and agreed to review the matter further.
On 14 February, three NII Inspectors visited the site along with DNSR personnel to acquaint themselves with the operations undertaken at the site.
The Inspectorate has taken no formal enforcement action on the Clyde sites during this period.