Emergency arrangements - NII response to a class 6 event – Overseas nuclear event

Site inspection and enforcement

INS/022 - 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 providing support to the Dept. of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in response to an Overseas Nuclear Event - a Class 6 Event in NII's emergency arrangements. It sets the procedure that NII will follow in responding to such an event.

1.2 Arrangements are in place for the UK to receive early notification of overseas nuclear events involving a significant release of radioactivity. DECC is the lead government department for responding to an overseas nuclear event. Following notification or detection of such an event, an initial assessment of the possible consequences will be carried out by DECC. If DECC consider there will be significant implications for the UK, then their National Response Plan would be activated, and NII would be alerted. NII has agreed to provide advice and support to DECC on issues within its knowledge and expertise.

2. Policy

2.1 For an overseas nuclear event, NII's involvement is advisory. However, NII would be expected to determine whether nuclear sites in the UK should consider taking remedial actions. This would be dealt with according to normal regulatory procedures.

2.2 The areas where NII would be expected to provide DECC with advice and support concerning the situation at the affected site are:

the likely severity of the accident
the likely nature and size of the radioactive release
the prospects for controlling the plant and terminating the radioactive release.

2.3 NII has also agreed to provide an inspector, normally a Superintending Inspector (SI) or an experienced Principal Inspector (PI), with sufficient nuclear industry expertise, to be located at the DECC Technical Co-ordination Centre (TCC). NII will provide support and advice to this person during the course of the event through the NII Response Centre.

2.4 NII and DECC have agreed to maintain, between the NII Response Centre and the TCC, the communications and equipment necessary to ensure effective and efficient enactment of the agreed arrangements.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 The Nominated Inspector is responsible for the mobilisation of the Chief Inspector (CI) / deputy, the TCC Inspector and an Emergency Response Group (ERG) member. He / she identifies 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; 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 clerical staff needed to support NII's emergency response; organising emergency travel arrangements; and establishing the NII Response Centre.

3.4 The NII TCC Team is responsible for providing advice and support to DECC on the nuclear technology aspects of the event. The team is also responsible for keeping the NII Response Centre informed of the developing situation.

3.5 The NII Response Centre Director is responsible for: leading and managing the NII response; interfacing with the DECC until the arrival of the NII inspector at the TCC; providing advice and support to the Chief Inspector; providing briefs to the Chief Inspector, HSE Secretariat and HSE Press Office etc. and supporting the NII TCC team as required.

3.6 TheNII Response Centre Team supports the NII Response Centre Director in the discharge of his / her responsibilities. It gathers information concerning the event.

4. Definitions

4.1 Class 6 Event : an overseas nuclear event which is defined as:

Any occurrence directly or indirectly involving nuclear or radiological safety at an overseas plant which DECC considers significant enough to implement its National Response Plan.

4.2 Technical Co-ordination Centre (TCC)

The Technical Co-ordination Centre is located in RIMNET (Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network) office in London. It is a facility for briefing central government and co-ordinating any national response.

5. Procedure

Mobilisation of NII Resource

5.1 Nominated Inspector

The Nominated Inspector will have been informed of a nuclear event by either 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 6). 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.
Alert a member of the ERG (EACD List 8) and request their mobilisation; discuss with the ERG member the composition of the NII Response Centre team ( Checksheet 4 contains details).
Alert an inspector to become Deputy Director (EACD List 14), and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre.
Alert an inspector to form the initial NII TCC team (EACD List 17), and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre (taking an overnight bag if appropriate and warrant if travelling from home).
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 over 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 CI / deputy

Having been notified of a Class 6 event by the Nominated Inspector, confirm the classification of the event, and record basic information on Checksheet 2 .
Alert a member of the Executive as appropriate (EACD List 6), recording contact details on Checksheet 2.
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.

5.3 Emergency Response Group Inspector

The ERG Inspector will be alerted to the event by the Nominated Inspector.

Following consultation with the Nominated Inspector, and whilst following this procedure, record the relevant details on Checksheet 3 .
If out of hours, alert the Redgrave Court reception (EACD List 13) and inform them that the Redgrave Court Incident Suite is to be opened immediately to deal with a nuclear emergency.
Alert two members of the administration staff for NII Response Centre duties (one of whom possesses keyboard skills including RIMNET operation to support Inspector 1, the other to become the Communications Officer (EACD List 10)), and ask them to proceed to the NII Response Centre.
Then proceed to the NII Response Centre, and assume the position of Inspector 1 on arrival.

Deployment and Operation of NII

5.4 The NII Response Centre Team

The NII Response Centre Team for an Overseas Nuclear Event normally comprises the Director, Deputy Director, Inspector 1, Administration Officer 1 and the Communications 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) Complete Checksheet 4 to record the roles of those involved in the NII response.

5) Brief the NII TCC team before its departure.

6) Agree the content of briefs to the CI, NII TCC team etc. prior to their issue.

7) Identify and confirm NII specialists to carry out any necessary assessments (recording the names of NII specialist staff supporting the NII Response Centre on Checksheet 4).

8) Routinely review strategic aims and focus.

9) Develop plans for the relief of staff.

Deputy Director

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

11) Equip the NII TCC team with the appropriate team pack, and manage their travel arrangements.

12) Maintain the Strategic Aim and Focus board.

13) Identify actions arising from the Focus board.

14) Maintain the Action board with support from the Administration Officer.

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

Inspector 1

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

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

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

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

20) Prepare briefing material as requested.

21) Ensure the Internet is routinely reviewed.

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

Administration Officer

23) Ensure adequate stationery and equipment is available for operation of the NII Response Centre.

24) Ensure adequate equipment and stationery is available for the NII TCC team.

25) Organise travel arrangements and hotel accommodation for NII TCC team.

26) Collate and distribute incoming communications.

27) Send outgoing data such as faxes as required, and carry out photocopying for the NII Response Centre team.

28) Support Inspector 1, including the operation of the RIMNET terminal, and in the preparation of briefs.

29) Liaise with the NII Response Centre Director on the issue of briefs.

30) Assist in updating the information boards.

Communications Officer

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

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

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

34) Assist the Administration Officer as appropriate.

5.5 The NII TCC Team

The NII TCC team normally comprises a SI or experienced PI. The CI / deputy may attend the TCC 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.

TCC Inspector

3) On arrival at the TCC, make introductions to TCC staff, familiarise yourself with the facilities, and establish communications with the NII Response Centre (EACD List 13);

4) Respond to requests (principally from DECC) to provide technical explanations concerning the possible nature of the event. In particular the NII TCC team should, after receiving appropriate briefing from NII Response Centre, advise on:

the likely severity of the accident;
the likely nature and size of the radioactive release; and
the prospects for controlling the plant and terminating the radioactive release.

5) Monitor the developing situation, including press releases; maintain regular contact with the NII Response Centre, keeping it appraised of the developing situation.

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 6 Checksheet 1 - Nominated Inspector

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

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

NII Response Centre deputy Director	name	---------------------------------------------------

NII TCC Team	name	---------------------------------------------------

NII Response Centre Director	name	---------------------------------------------------

Class 6 Checksheet 2 - CI / deputy

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

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

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

Class 6 Checksheet 3 - ERG Inspector

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

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

Administration officer	name	------------------------------------------------------
Communications officer	name	------------------------------------------------------

Class 6 Checksheet 4 - NII Response Centre Director

TEAM POSITIONS TO BE FILLED

NIIResponse Centre Team		NII TCC Team
Director	-------------------	Inspector	-------------------
Deputy Director	-------------------
Inspector 1	-------------------
Admin Officer	-------------------
Comms officer	-------------------

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