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 Chapelcross Site Stakeholder Group (SSG) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Chapelcross Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly and are available also from the Internet at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) normally attend SSG meetings and will be happy to respond to any questions raised there or subsequently by members of the SSG. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE’s Nuclear Directorate on 0151-951-3484/3290.
Nuclear Safety Directorate
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
The HMNII Site Inspector made the following visits during the period:
Routine inspections continued throughout the period to check compliance with the conditions attached to the Nuclear Site Licence.
The Annual Review meeting between Chapelcross and HMNII was held on 18 July. At the meeting, MEL presented its performance over the last year on a wide range of safety-related issues. HMNII concluded that the information was comprehensive and well presented.
The management and recording of events that occurred on the station during the period were inspected. Most of the events were relatively minor.
The site inspector investigated two incidents where lightly contaminated items had been found in non-active workshops on the licensed site. These items had been found by routine monitoring of the workshops as required by the licensee’s arrangements. He concluded that these appeared to be isolated incidents that should have been prevented by the arrangements for checking equipment before it left the contamination controlled area.
The following routine meetings were attended:
Modification work continued on the upgrading of the fuel route discharge machines and associated plant. Inactive commissioning of the systems continued, along with training of staff. HMNII has completed assessment work on the design of the new fuel route.
MEL is moving towards splitting onto two companies – Magnox North, which will include Chapelcross, and Magnox South. The next phase is for the company to move into shadow working. During this period Magnox North and Magnox South still remain part of Magnox Electric Limited, but act as independent companies. The site inspector participated in two inspections with SEPA to determine whether Chapelcross is prepared for the move into shadow working. The inspections concluded that some improvements to procedures were necessary and these have since been completed.
Every 10 years MEL is required to undertake a comprehensive review of safety known as the Periodic Safety Review. The NII decision date for the next review is 31 March 2009, which requires MEL to submit the review by 31 March 2008. NII is therefore monitoring progress on the review.
The Inspectorate has powers under the Nuclear Site Licence to issue regulatory documents collectively termed Licence Instruments. These Licence Instruments are issued under the licence conditions and arrangements and include Consents, Approvals, Directions, Specifications, Notifications and Agreements. No Licence Instruments were issued during the quarter.
Under Health and Safety Legislation the Site Inspector, or other HSE Inspectors, may issue formal notices to secure improvements to safety. No notices were issued during the quarter.
16 November 2007