Our People is a regular feature focusing on staff at the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the work we do every day to help keep the nuclear industry safe and secure.
It aims to bring our jobs to life while increasing understanding of our role among key stakeholders.
Today, we meet Elspeth McGregor and learn more about her role as a Nuclear Safety Inspector and chemistry specialist within ONR’s New Reactors directorate.
After completing a Masters in chemistry, Elspeth was part of the first cohort of ONR-sponsored nuclear graduates in 2014.
During this time, she worked for the organisation as well as undertaking some secondments out to industry which included time spent with EDF’s Dungeness A radioactive waste management team and Heysham 1 chemistry team.
Elspeth joined ONR in 2016 as a Nuclear Associate, later progressing to Nuclear Safety Inspector and is currently leading the chemistry assessment of the Rolls Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR), which is currently progressing through Step 3 of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA).
Chemistry has a wide-ranging influence in reactors, covering aspects including reactivity, materials degradation, fuel integrity, and the minimisation of radiological doses to workers and the public.
Elspeth’s work involves reviewing Rolls Royce SMR’s safety case submissions and interacting with them at meetings to discuss their submissions, give feedback and influence improvements to safety.
She said: “I always find that GDA is an excellent team effort. It’s important that we collaborate with colleagues from the chemistry team who are working on other GDAs to ensure we’re being consistent across the board but also liaising with other regulatory disciplines such as fuel and core and radiological protection on areas of joint interest.”
The GDA process has been a theme during Elspeth’s time with ONR, as before the Rolls Royce project, she worked on the HPR-1000 GDA, requested by General Nuclear System Ltd, which gained design acceptance in February 2022.
Prior to this, Elspeth was part of the Advanced Nuclear Technologies team, looking at how our chemistry guidance might be applied to those technologies. She has also been involved in chemistry inspection and assessment work across the EDF sites.
Alongside the technical work, Elspeth has been mentoring the career development of three ONR developing inspectors and said: “It’s been really rewarding and a valuable opportunity to pass on the support and guidance that I’ve had during my time in ONR.
“I’ve benefited hugely from that, not just from line managers and mentors, but many other colleagues have been willing to provide advice and expertise. It’s rewarding to return the favour where I can.”
Elspeth also has responsibility for engaging with some of ONR’s international stakeholders as part of ongoing work to influence global standards of safety, security and safeguards.
She has a role of Technical Secretary of the WENRA Reactor Harmonisation Working Group, which explored how other countries’ regulatory frameworks operate, and how international standards could be further harmonised. She also recently contributed to the review of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chemistry guidance.
Outside of work, Elspeth learnt to knit during the pandemic, and likes to spend time baking and walking in the Cheshire countryside where she lives.