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 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
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. There were no visits to NRTE Vulcan during the Quarter. An Inspector attended the Emergency planning meeting at Inverness on 25 August 2006
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.
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 by HSE-NII at Vulcan. 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 compliance inspection.
There were no non-routine matters.
The Inspectorate has taken no formal enforcement action on the Site during this period.