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HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

NRTE VULCAN, at Dounreay

Quarterly report for 1 April to 30 June 2006

Contents

Foreword

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 and covers activities associated with the regulation of nuclear safety at NRTE VULCAN. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend these meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there or subsequently by members at the time. 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

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Inspections

Visits are made to the NRTE VULCAN, at Dounreay for the purpose of undertaking routine plant and project inspections or meeting site management or safety representatives. NII inspectors visited the site during the quarter on the following dates:

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Routine matters

NII’s normal method of business is to inspect NRTE VULCAN 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 site.

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.

Inspection topics covered during the above visits included:

  1. Demonstration of the site emergency arrangements
  2. Site induction training;
  3. General operations conducted on the site;
  4. The role of Management and Safety Representatives; and
  5. The introduction of a behavioural safety initiative.
In general, the inspections indicated that the site is continuing to manage and control the activities in a satisfactory manner, and no significant issues were identified.

 

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Non-routine matters

It is HSE-NII policy to periodically change the staffing of site inspection posts. In this respect the NII Site Inspector and Superintending Inspector have changed and on 25 to 27 April 2006, the outgoing Site Inspector accompanied the new Inspectors as part his handover of site Inspection responsibility.

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Regulatory activity

The Inspectorate has taken no formal enforcement action on the Site during this period.

NRTE VULCAN Site Inspector
HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

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