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 Stakeholders Group (DSG) and covers activities associated with the regulation of nuclear safety at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE). These reports are distributed quarterly and are also available on HSE’s web site at http//www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/llc/index.htm. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate usually attend DSG meetings and will respond to questions raised there or subsequently by members of the DSG. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE’s Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151-951-3484/3290.
Nuclear Directorate
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
The majority of sites inspected by HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) a part of the Health and Safety Executive are licensed by HSE/NII under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended). Vulcan NRTE is not a licensed site although it operates under Authorisation from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR). The site is adjacent to the Dounreay Licenced Site and is regulated by HSE/NII through other legislation as noted below. This report summarises the inspection and regulatory activities associated with Vulcan NRTE which are coordinated with inspections by DNSR. The focus for Vulcan NRTE is safe and timely testing of submarine reactor performance to enable continued safe operation of the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet.
The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate Site Inspector did not visit the site during the quarter.
With limited resources, HSE-NII necessarily employs a sampling regime in its regulation of sites that is proportionate to the risks, and which is targeted primarily on those activities with the highest risks or where the hazards are least well controlled.
Inspections on site are undertaken are taken as part of monitoring compliance with:
This entails monitoring operator’s actions on the site in relation to incidents, operations, maintenance, projects, modifications, safety case changes and any other matters which may affect safety. The operators are required to make and implement adequate arrangements in order to ensure legal compliance. Inspections seek to judge both the adequacy of these arrangements and their implementation.
During the reporting period it was agreed that the DNSR inspection activity was sufficient to ensure that risks to the workforce and public were properly controlled. It is also confirmed that no mandatory regulatory intervention was required from HSE-NII inspectors during the period.
Operators are required to have arrangements to respond to non-routine matters and events. HSE/NII Inspectors judge the adequacy of the operator’s response including actions taken to implement any necessary improvements.
The Site Inspector was informed of a minor contamination incident during the reporting period and was satisfied that this was being managed this appropriately. This will be followed-up when next on site.
Under Health and Safety legislation HSE/NII Site Inspectors, and other HSE Inspectors, may issue enforcement (Crown) notices to secure improvements to safety.
No enforcement (Crown) notices were issued during the quarter.