The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is pleased to announce that Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited (DRDL) has returned to routine regulatory attention following improvements in safety performance.
Due to these sustained safety improvements by the licensee at the Plymouth site, ONR has taken DRDL out of enhanced attention after an extended period of increased regulatory focus.
Dan Hasted, ONR’s Director of Regulation for Operating Facilities, said:
“Through our enabling regulatory approach, we have worked closely with DRDL to gain assurance that the required safety improvements have been made.
"The licensee has demonstrated clear progress in leadership, organisational capability, decision-making, and internal assurance. This has allowed us to return the site to routine regulatory attention."
DRDL had been in enhanced regulatory attention since 2014 due to safety issues linked to ageing facilities, organisational capability and control of work.
But DRDL has shown ONR that it has the capability and capacity to deliver sustainable safety performance during its construction activities and submarine maintenance.
Through a regular programme of inspections and other interventions, ONR identified a period of consistently safe operations, with site leadership demonstrating a positive approach to safety management and culture.
Regulatory attention levels are set by ONR based on an assessment of overall performance.
This considers a broad range of safety and operational factors, reflecting judgements across nuclear safety, nuclear site health and safety and, where applicable, civil nuclear security.
Dan Hasted added: “Our ongoing regulatory activity at Devonport will focus on ensuring these improvements in safety performance at the site continue.”
Hear more from Dan Hasted about the site's return to routine attention: