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. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate 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, Nuclear Directorate on 0151 951 3484/3290 .
This report will be put onto the HSE Website under ‘Local Liaison Committee Reports’ at www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/llc/index.htm
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:
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.
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. Recent increases in higher priority work at other sites have enforced a corresponding reduction in the amount of site inspection that can be undertaken at Clyde. In order to maximise the effectiveness of regulatory resource, inspections from HSE-NII and MoD Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) work jointly, a position defined within an HSE/MoD Letter of Understanding.
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. From 1 January 2007, resource will become available allowing resumption of routine compliance inspection. A significant amount of resource will be deployed by NII during the Grade A demonstration Exercise in November. HSE-NII Inspectors will be assessing the duty holder’s response against the requirements of REPPIR for which HSE is the enforcing authority.
On 20 and 21 July 2006, the Site Inspector accompanied the Superintending Inspector Nuclear Installations when he visited the Naval Base at the invitation of the Naval Base Commander to familiarise himself with the sites and their operations.
On 12 and 13 September, the Superintending Inspector attended the Clyde Off Site Centre (COSC) to attend a seminar that focussed on effective multi-agency to emergency situations using the COSC facility. He took the opportunity to familiarise himself with the operation of the COSC and had general updating discussions with MoD Emergency Management Staff.No formal regulatory documents or enforcement notices were issued by the Inspectorate during the period.
Clyde Naval Base Site Inspector
HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate