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 Dounreay Site Stakeholder Group (DSSG) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Dounreay. These reports are distributed quarterly and are available also from the Internet at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate attend Dounreay SSG meetings and will respond to questions raised there by members of the Dounreay SSG. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE’s Nuclear Directorate on 0151-951-3484/3290.
Nuclear Directorate
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
NII Site Inspectors and Specialist Inspectors visited Dounreay on the following dates:-
Compliance inspections were undertaken against a number of the Licence Conditions. An inspection of LC24 (Operating Instructions) at PFR identified some deficiencies in compliance arrangements which DSRL has resolved.
The Level 1 Emergency Exercise Delta 43 was carried out on the 21 May 2008 to demonstrate Dounreay Site Restoration Limited’s response under its Emergency Plan. A team of our inspectors observed the exercise, which was focused on an incident inside the Fuel Cycle Area (FCA). The Inspectors judged the exercise to be an acceptable demonstration of the licensee’s emergency preparedness.
The Dounreay Regulatory Forum was held on 22nd May at which DSRL’s proposals for the 2009 Lifetime Plan were discussed. Changes to Regulatory Milestones in the decommissioning programme were explained and the majority were agreed under the arrangements for Licence Condition 35.
On 11th April NII gave agreement for the resumption of radioactive liquor transfer from the liquor store to the cementation plant. This allowed the restart of cementation of liquid radioactive waste on the site. Outstanding actions in connection with training are to be addressed before routine operations on a 24 hour continuous shift working pattern can resume.
NaK Disposal
The active commissioning programme of the NaK Disposal Plant was interrupted in May following two leaks from the ion exchange clean-up part of the plant. The first leak was of radioactive caustic liquor and the second was of non-radioactive acid. In both cases, the liquids were fully contained within the plant. These incidents were investigated and a letter written to DSRL requiring plant improvements prior to the recommencement of the active commissioning programme.
Sodium Residue Removal
Following the development of highly novel intrusive equipment by DSRL, the bulk sodium coolant has been removed from the PFR reactor vessel leaving residual surface quantities and heel pools. DSRL is developing the Water Vapour Nitrogen process for removing the remaining sodium. The safety case for this process has been called-in for examination and is receiving assessment by specialists within NII.
General Safety Issues
NII Inspectors expressed concern to DSRL over the accumulation of a number of minor issues and events arising during the course of this reporting period. These concerns related to deficiencies identified in safety documentation and events arising at some of the facilities at Dounreay. DSRL responded promptly to these concerns informing NII of the actions taken to remedy the situation. Their response includes upgrading the 2008/09 safety improvement programme and strengthening the safety documentation production process. NII will monitor the effectiveness of the DSRL response and will continue to seek improvements where necessary.
The Inspectorate has powers under the Licence to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. In addition, the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments to issue Specifications, Acknowledgements, and Agreements under either the conditions attached to the Licence, or arrangements made by DSRL for complying with those conditions.
NII issued the following Licence Instrument(LI) during the 2nd quarter of 2008.
| Nuclear site licence number Sc17 | |
|---|---|
| LI 504 | Agreement to transfer liquor from the liquor store to the cementation plant. |