Emergency arrangements - NII response to a class 1 (MOD) event

Site inspection and enforcement

INS/017 - Issue 4

Issue date:: 28/04/09
Review date:: 28/04/12
Open Government Status:: Fully open
Approved By:: R Gray

1. Purpose and scope

1.1 This document gives NII policy for responding to an off-site nuclear emergency at a Ministry of Defence (MoD) site - a Class 1 (MoD) Event in NII's emergency arrangements. It sets the procedure NII will follow in responding to such an event.

2. Policy

2.1 For an off-site nuclear emergency at a MoD site, NII will: witness, monitor and record operators actions; take enforcement action if appropriate; and provide independent information/advice to senior managers in HSE, relevant authorities and other government departments. NII's response will be led and managed by the NII Response Centre Director.

2.2 To meet the commitments in para 2.1, NII will ascertain the facts surrounding the emergency, assess the safety of the affected site, including the licensee's or operator's proposed actions, deploy NII staff as required, and formulate NII strategy and response.

2.3 NII will deploy staff to the affected site, the Off-Site Facility (OSF), and the Nuclear Accident Information and Advisory Group (NAIAG) in London. NII will provide advice to these teams during the event.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 The Nominated Inspector is responsible for: mobilisation of the Chief Inspector (CI) / deputy; dispatching the site inspector or a suitable alternative; alerting an Emergency Response Group (ERG) member to mobilise NII resource; and alerting one Superintending Inspector (SI) to report to the NII Response Centre. He / she will identify inspectors to become the Director and Deputy Director of the NII Response Centre.

3.2 The Chief Inspector (or deputy ) is responsible for: confirming the NII response with the Nominated Inspector; alerting a member of the Executive to the event; alerting an inspector to form the NII NAIAG team; briefing government ministers on request; and co-ordinating NII media strategy.

3.3 The Emergency Response Group (ERG) is responsible for: alerting other inspectors and administrative staff needed to support NII's emergency response; organising emergency travel arrangements; and establishing the NII Response Centre.

3.4 The NII Response Centre Director is responsible for: leading and managing NII's emergency response(see fig 1b); providing advice and support to the Chief Inspector; supporting remote teams as required; providing a rolling brief to the Chief Inspector, HSE Secretariat and HSE Press Office etc; co-ordinating regulatory actions as appropriate; and monitoring the licensee's or operator's activities.

3.5 The NII Response Centre Team supports the NII Response Centre Director in discharging his / her responsibilities.

3.6 The NII Site Team is responsible for: ascertaining the facts on the emergency including establishing the adequacy of actions taken to secure a safe plant state and the advice given to authorities off site; submitting routine reports on events at site to the NII Response Centre; and representing NII at or near the site if required.

3.7 The NII OSF Team is responsible for: providing advice and support to the NII Response Centre Director; considering all aspects of the emergency which affect the site; providing advice to the Off-Site Facility (OSF) strategic co-ordination group; and representing NII at local press briefings.

3.8 The NII NAIAG Team represents NII at NAIAG, supports the CI / deputy, and liaises with the NII Response Centre Director.

3.9 The NII MoD-Enclave Team (Redgrave Court) is responsible for accessing restricted technical information to advise the NII Response Centre team on the adequacy of the technical decisions taken, and to provide specialist technical support.

4. Definitions

4.1 Class 1 (MoD) Event - Off-site nuclear emergency at a MoD site, is defined as:

A nuclear event which has affected (or has the potential to affect) members of the public and for which the site has invoked its emergency plan and set up its Off-Site Facility (OSF).

4.2 Off-Site Facility (OSF)

A generic term for an ancillary emergency facility, located at some distance from the site, where measures to protect the public are co-ordinated.

4.3 Nuclear Accident Information and Advisory Group (NAIAG)

NAIAG is part of MoD's nuclear accident response organisation. The purpose of NAIAG is to provide a working level forum for co-ordinating MoD and central government involvement in their response to a defence nuclear accident. NAIAG does not exercise any control over military and civilian authorities responding to the accident.

5. Procedure: Mobilisation of NII resource

5.1 Nominated inspector

The Nominated Inspector will have been informed of a nuclear event by the ONR Duty Admin Office or the HSE Duty Officer. The Nominated Inspector will have followed the procedure on notification and classification, and hence made a return call and obtained sufficient information to classify the event as Class 1 (MoD). The Nominated Inspector will then:

Record on Checksheet 1 the details of those contacted on following this procedure.
Contact the CI or deputy (not a Deputy Chief Inspector (DCI), see Emergency Arrangements Communications Directory (EACD) List 4) and inform the CI / deputy of the event; confirm its classification and the proposed NII response.
Contact the site inspector or suitable alternative (EACD List 2 or 3) and dispatch them to site; ask them to liaise with the NII Response Centre when they are close to site.
Alert a member of the ERG (EACD List 8) and request their mobilisation as ERG Inspector 1; discuss with the ERG member the composition of the NII Response Centre team ( Checksheet 5 contains details).
Alert one Superintending Inspector (EACD List 1), and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre (taking an overnight bag if appropriate and warrant if travelling from home).
Alert an inspector to become Deputy Director (EACD List 14), and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre.
If on the list of NII Response Centre Directors (EACD List 15), proceed to the NII Response Centre (taking Checksheet 1 ); if not, contact an appropriate inspector (EACD List 15), pass them the information on Checksheet 1, and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre and assume the position of Director on arrival.

5.2 The Chief Inspector / deputy

Having been notified of a Class 1 (MoD) nuclear event by the Nominated Inspector, confirm the classification of the event, and record basic information on Checksheet 2 .
Record on Checksheet 2 the names of those contacted on following this procedure.
Alert one inspector (EACD List 12) and ask them to proceed to NAIAG.
Alert a member of the Executive as appropriate (EACD List 6).
Maintain appropriate contact with the NII Response Centre (EACD List 13) and advise it of contact telephone numbers, and if personally responding to the event, mobile communication links and planned destination.
Consider whether the Executive should be advised to consider implementation of HSE's Major Incident Response and Investigation Policy and Procedure arrangements.

5.3 Emergency Response Group (ERG)

An ERG member will be alerted to the event by the Nominated Inspector. The initial duties of the ERG are split between two inspectors.

ERG Inspector 1

1) Following consultation with the Nominated Inspector, and whilst following this procedure, record the relevant details on Checksheet 3 .

2) Contact a second ERG member (EACD List 8) and ask them to carry out the duties of ERG Inspector 2.

3) Alert three Remote Team inspectors (EACD List 16) and one Health Physics Inspector (EACD List 9) and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre with an overnight bag if appropriate and a warrant.

4) Alert Mod Enclave inspectors (EACD List 16) for the NII MoD-enclave and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre.

5) Then proceed to the NII Response Centre, and assume the position of Inspector 1 on arrival.

ERG Inspector 2

6) Following consultation with ERG Inspector 1, and whilst following this procedure, record the relevant details on Checksheet 4 .

7) If out of hours, alert the Redgrave Court reception to inform them that the Redgrave Court Incident Suite is to be opened up to deal with a nuclear emergency.

8) If emergency air transport is considered to be essential, alert the Defence Crisis Management Centre (EACD List 7) requesting them to invoke SOP 207, Helicopter Lift of Senior Government Officials. Advise that NII will re-establish contact shortly, when it will ask for details of a collection point and time.

9) Alert five members of the administration staff for NII Response Centre duties (EACD List 10), and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre.

10) Then proceed to the NII Response Centre, and assume the position of Inspector 2 on arrival.

Deployment and Operation of NII

5.4 NII Response Centre Team

The NII Response Centre team for a Class 1 (MoD) Nuclear Event normally comprises: the Director who will have been the initial Nominated Inspector, or will have been appointed by that inspector; Deputy Director; Inspectors 1 and 2; Lead Administration Officer; Communications Officer; two Administration Officers; and the Rolling Brief Officer.

NII Response Centre Director

1) Confirm the roles and responsibilities of NII Response Centre team members and brief them on the event.

2) Identify any immediate actions and issues for the NII Response Centre team.

3) Confirm the initial Strategy and Focus for the NII Response Centre.

4) Form the assembled NII staff into teams. Complete Checksheet 5 to record the roles.

5) Brief the NII OSF team before their departure.6) Dispatch remote team inspector to site to assist the Site Inspector.

7) Send the draft initial press statement at Checksheet 6 (amended as necessary) to HSE press office (EACD List 6).

8) Select external organisations to be notified using the proforma at Checksheet 7 and pass to Administration Officers for action.

9) Agree the content of the NII rolling brief prior to its routine issue.

10) Identify and confirm NII specialist inspectors to carry out any necessary assessments (recording the names of NII specialist staff supporting the NII Response Centre on Checksheet 5 ).

11) Routinely review strategic aims and focus.

12) Co-ordinate NII regulatory actions.

13) Develop plans for the relief of staff.

NII Response CentreDeputy Director

14) Manage and co-ordinate activities in the NII Response Centre.

15) Equip NII OSF team with site information and NII team packs including fax machines and mobile phones.

16) Re-establish contact with Defence Crisis Management Centre (EACD List 7) and arrange emergency air transport if this is considered essential.

17) Confirm whether NII NAIAG team require a police escort and arrange for Merseyside Police if necessary to provide support (EACD List 7).

18) Maintain the Strategic Aim and Focus board.

19) Identify actions arising from the Focus board.

20) Maintain the Action board with support from the Lead Administration Officer.

21) Brief and deploy NII teams responding to the event.

22) If the NII Site team reports that it is experiencing difficulty in gaining access to the site because of road blocks, traffic congestion etc, contact the local police to arrange access.

23) Record information from telephone calls etc. on the appropriate form and pass these to the Communications Officer for logging.

NII Response Centre Inspector 1

24) Obtain information on the event as it develops and seek additional relevant information.

25) Monitor and review operator's activities in response to the event.

26) Identify issues where advice should be sought from NII specialist expertise.

27) Provide responses to issues raised by the NII Response Centre Director.

28) Provide advice to the NII Response Centre Director on the operator's contingency planning arrangements for repair / recovery.

29) Record information from telephone calls etc. on the appropriate form and pass these to the Communications Officer for logging.

NII Response Centre Inspector 2

30) Collate information on the event.

31) Update the information boards with plant status and developments on site.

32) Assist the Rolling Brief Officer in preparing the NII Rolling Brief according to Checksheet 8.

33) Ensure the Internet is routinely reviewed; and assist Inspector 1 in monitoring the operator's activities.

34) Record information from telephone calls etc. on the appropriate form and pass these to the Communications Officer for logging.

The NII Response Centre Lead Administration Officer

35) Manage administration support for the NII Response Centre.

36) Ensure the NII Response Centre equipment is operational and the appropriate documentation, maps and stationery are available.

37) Ensure in conjunction with the Deputy Director the appropriate equipment, documentation and stationary is ready for issue to NII teams who will be deployed to off-site facilities.

38) Support the NII Response Centre Deputy Director in updating the information boards.

39) Ensure incoming and outgoing communications are managed effectively by NII Response Centre staff.

40) Manage the reporting on information boards which are not the responsibility of the Deputy Director of NII Response Centre.

41) Manage and co-ordinate any staffing shift changes in conjunction with the NII Response Centre Director.

The Communications Officer

42) Manage the distribution of incoming phone calls into the NII Response Centre.

43) Where appropriate, record information for distribution to the NII Response Centre team.

44) Maintain and co-ordinate a list of phone calls into and out of the NII Response Centre.

Administration Officers 1 and 2

45) Collate and distribute incoming communications.

46) Send outgoing data such as faxes as required.

47) Carry out photocopying for the NII Response Centre team; and organise hotel accommodation for NII teams deployed to site.

48) Support Inspector 2, including the operation of the NARIMS and RIMNET terminals.

The Rolling Brief Officer

49) Prepare with the support of Inspector 2 the NII Response Centre Rolling Brief ( Checksheet 8 ), consulting him / her on points of clarification.

50) Liaise with the NII Response Centre Director on the issue of the Rolling Brief.

5.5 NII MoD-Enclave Team

The MoD-enclave team normally comprises two NII specialist inspectors.

Obtain restricted information on the event as it develops and seek additional relevant information.
Monitor and review operator's activities in response to the event, in the light of such restricted information, and advise the NII Response Centre Director via NII Response Centre Inspector 1 accordingly.
Provide responses to issues raised by the NII Response Centre Director.
Provide advice to the NII Response Centre Director via NII Response Centre Inspector 1 on the operator's contingency planning arrangements for repair / recovery.

5.6 NII Site Team

The NII Site team for a Class 1 (MoD) event normally comprises the site inspector and a second inspector to provide a shift rota system. For some sites where the technical support centre is located at or near the site a larger team comprising of an SI and two inspectors may be necessary.

If the site inspector is on site at the time the event occurs, he / she should proceed to the Emergency Control Room. They should confirm the Nominated Inspector has been notified and a return call has been received. If a return call has not been received within 30 minutes, they should ask for a repeat notification.
If difficulties are experienced in gaining access to the site because of road blocks etc, contact the NII Response Centre Deputy Director who will arrange access via the local police.
Notify NII Response Centre of your arrival on site and present yourselves to the site emergency controller.
Ascertain the facts surrounding the emergency and the actions taken to secure plant safety.
Ascertain the actions given to authorities off the site.
Make routine briefing reports to the NII Response Centre team on the operator's activities.
Where possible, maintain a record of events witnessed and identify information which may be relevant to subsequent investigations into the emergency and its consequences, including the preservation of essential evidence.
Be prepared to represent NII at or near the site.

5.7 NII OSF Team

The OSF team is nominally staffed by one SI, as team leader; one remote team inspector to support and deputise for the team leader; and two additional engineering inspectors.

NII OSF Team Leader

1) Represent NII in the OSF.

2) Liaise with and provide advice and support to the NII Response Centre Director

3) Manage the NII OSF team and ensure all aspects of the emergency are obtained from the technical support centre.

4) Provide independent information/advice to the OSF Strategic Co-ordination Group as appropriate.

Health Physics Inspector

5) Liaise with the operators health physics staff to establish an independent view of the situation at the site.

6) To provide independent Health Physics advice as required.

Remote Team Inspector 1

7) Deputise for the team leader as required

8) Gather information on all aspects of the emergency at the site from the operator at the OSF.

9) Liaise with NII Response Centre Inspector 1 on technical briefing requirements.

Remote Team Inspector 2

10) In co-ordination with Inspector 1 gather information on all aspects of the emergency at the site from the operator at the OSF

11) Establish and maintain contact with NII Response Centre Inspector 2

12) Provide routine briefing reports to the NII Response Centre team following advice from the NII Response Centre Director.

5.8 NII NAIAG Team

The NAIAG team comprises of two inspectors who are alerted by the CI / deputy. The CI / deputy may attend the NAIAG in due course.

CI / deputy

1) Brief the Secretary of State and other government ministers on request.

2) Co-ordinate NII media strategy in conjunction with the HSE press office, NII Response Centre, and represent NII at national press conferences.

NAIAG Inspectorial Support

3) Establish communications with the CI / deputy (EACD List 4), and provide support as required.

4) Establish communications with the NII Response Centre (EACD List 13), and liaise with the NII Response Centre Director.

5) Establish communications with HSE via the Secretariat (EACD List 6).

6) Monitor press releases made by the operator and other organisations, and advise the CI / deputy accordingly.

7) Provide advice to the CI / deputy on the need to attend NAIAG.

8) Represent NII at NAIAG in the absence of the CI / deputy, and respond to requests from MOD.

6. Associated documents

6.1 Overview of NII response to nuclear events, NII Emergency Procedures Handbook.

6.2 INS/015 - Initial Notification and Event Classification.

6.3 Emergency Arrangements Communications Directory, NII Emergency Procedures Handbook.

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 1 - Nominated Inspector

CI / deputy	name	------------------------------------------------
	phone no.	------------------------------------------------

Site Inspector	name	------------------------------------------------
	phone no.	------------------------------------------------

ERG Inspector 1	name	------------------------------------------------

NII Response CentreDeputy Director	name	------------------------------------------------

SI 1	name	------------------------------------------------

NII Response CentreDirector	name	------------------------------------------------

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 2 - CI / deputy

Nominated Inspector	name	------------------------------------------------
	phone no.	------------------------------------------------

Name of site		------------------------------------------------
Date and time of incident		------------------------------------------------
Reactor / plant affected		------------------------------------------------
Number of known fatalities		------------------------------------------------
State of plant safety parameters		------------------------------------------------




NII NAIAG Team		------------------------------------------------
Inspector 1	name	------------------------------------------------
Inspector 2	name	------------------------------------------------

Executive member	name	------------------------------------------------

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 3 - ERG Inspector 1

Nominated Inspector	name	------------------------------------------------
	phone no.	------------------------------------------------

Name of site		------------------------------------------------
Date and time of incident		------------------------------------------------

ERG Inspector 2	name	------------------------------------------------

Three Remote Team Inspectors	name	------------------------------------------------
	name	------------------------------------------------
	name	------------------------------------------------
Health Physics Inspector	name	------------------------------------------------

Two inspectors for MoD-enclave	name	------------------------------------------------
	name	------------------------------------------------

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 4 - ERG Inspector 2

Nominated Inspector	name	------------------------------------------------
	phone no.	------------------------------------------------

Name of site		------------------------------------------------
Date and time of incident		------------------------------------------------

Lead Administration officer	name	------------------------------------------------
Communications officer	name	------------------------------------------------
Administration officer 1	name	------------------------------------------------
Administration officer 2	name	------------------------------------------------
Rolling Brief officer	name	------------------------------------------------

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 5 - NII Response Centre Director

TEAM POSITIONS TO BE FILLED

NIIResponse Centre Team		NII OSF Team
Director	--------------	Team Leader (SI)	-------------------
Deputy Director	--------------	Hlth Physics Insp	-------------------
Inspector 1 (ERG 1)	--------------	Inspector 1	-------------------
Inspector 2 (ERG 2)	--------------	Inspector 2	-------------------
Lead Admin Officer	--------------
Comms officer	--------------
Admin Officer 1	--------------
Admin Officer 2	--------------
Rolling Brief Officer	--------------

NII Site Team
Site Inspector	--------------
Remote Team Insp.	--------------
Sup Int Inspector (see para 5.6)	--------------

Specialist Inspector Support to NII Response Centre (as required)		NII MoD-enclave
Inspector 1	--------------	Inspector 1	-------------------
Inspector 2	--------------	Inspector 2	-------------------
Inspector 3	--------------
Inspector 4	--------------

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 6 - NII Response Centre Director

INITIAL PRESS STATEMENT

IF EXERCISE, PREFACE MESSAGE WITH EXERCISE NAME ..................................................

HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) has been informed at .......... hours today ........................(day and month) o f an incident at the .............................site.

The site's emergency plan has been put into operation.

The NII has implemented its own nuclear emergency procedures and is responding to the incident. The NII has set up its own emergency room, and Inspectors have been sent to the site and to the off-site emergency facility.

NII is responsible for monitoring the activities of ...........................(licensee / operator) a nd advising central government. No further information about this incident is available at this time.

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 7 - NII Response Centre Director

STANDARD NOTIFICATION MESSAGE

IF EXERCISE, PREFACE MESSAGE WITH EXERCISE NAME ........................................................

To	----------------------------------
Telephone no. used	----------------------------------
Contact name	----------------------------------
Time	----------------------------------

This is the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate NII Response Centre. NII has been informed at ......... hours today of an emergency at the........................ site.

The site's nuclear emergency plan has been put into operation.

The local off-site facility has been activated, from where measures to protect members of the public will be co-ordinated.

NII is implementing its own nuclear emergency procedures and is responding to the emergency.

NOTE: IF EXERCISE, STATE:

This is a communications test, no further action, I repeat no further action is required from you.

Message Ends.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ORGANISATIONS TO BE NOTIFIED

Mandatory

1. HSE Secretariat (EACD List 6)

2. Health Protection Agency – Radiological Protection Division

Consider:-

3. Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly (EACD List 7)

4. Department for Transport (DfT) (EACD List 7)

5. Air Traffic Control Centre (EACD List 7)

6. Defence Crisis Management Centre (EACD List 7)

7. FOD Area Director ( e-HR accessible from within NII Response Centre)

Class 1 (MoD) Checksheet 8 - NII Response Centre Team Inspector 2

NII Response Centre- ROLLING BRIEF

To:	Chief Inspector	Brief Number:
	NII OSF Team Leader	Date:
	NEBR / SGoRR / NAIAG	Time:
	HSE Secretariat	Exercise:	Yes / No
	HSE Press Office	(delete as appropriate)
		Exercise Name:

1. Plant Details

Name of Installation	-------------------------------------
Location
Time of Incident
Status of Incident
INES Rating