- Site: Oldbury
- IR number: 21-056
- Date: July 2021
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of this inspection was to evaluate Oldbury’s (Magnox Ltd.) compliance against the requirements for the civil transport of class 7 (radioactive materials) dangerous goods, as set out in the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation is responsible for regulating the civil carriage of class 7 dangerous goods within Great Britain and is appointed as the Transport Competent Authority under Regulation 25, ensuring dutyholders comply with the transport legislation.
Inspection Carried Out by ONR
The class 7 (radioactive materials) dangerous goods transport inspection comprised the following aspects: -
- Consigning of Class 7 Materials
- Class 7 Transport Emergency Arrangements
- Operational Experience
- Plant Walkdown
Consigning of Class 7 Materials
This part of the inspection commenced with the dutyholder briefly presenting an overview of their transport activities and arrangements. The remainder of this part of the inspection was conducted through a detailed examination of the dutyholders Quality Plan utilised during the preparation and the transport of Class 7 (radioactive materials) dangerous goods. I focused my inspection on the Quality Plan being prepared for the transport of a consignment of Cast Iron Yellow Box/Type VI packages.
The dutyholder explained that as the packages were currently being prepared for transport, not all parts of the Quality Plan were complete. I deemed that where this was the case, examples of the documentation usually completed, or an example of a completed Quality Plan from an alternative package could be utilised to demonstrate compliance.
The Quality Plan followed the dutyholders arrangements and tracked the deployment of packages from preparation through maintenance, dispatch, and the consignee receipt confirmation.
Class 7 Transport Emergency Arrangements
The dutyholder explained that the monitoring and clean-up of any of the dutyholders radiological transport events within Great Britain is covered by four sites, namely Harwell; Oldbury; Winfrith and Wylfa.
Each site has appropriately trained persons to respond to events. The dutyholder is a Level 2 and Level 3 emergency responder and that a grab bag, transport plus monitoring equipment etc were always on standby. The dutyholder subscribed to the national response scheme for transport events involving class 7 materials, Radsafe which provides a first response for all the dutyholder sites. Radiological Accident Contingency Plans were available, with specific arrangements depending on whether the incident was a Level 2 or 3 Radsafe response. The arrangements contain response flow diagrams to inform the responders of activities to be followed. I considered these arrangements appropriate
Operational Experience
Events are assigned one of 5 levels of significance. A weekly incidents report was produced listing all events on the Oldbury site the previous week. There was in addition a monthly feedback review of events which had passed through a mandatory assessment process. All events were investigated, with less significant incidents not being dismissed, but utilised subsequently for trending. Learning from events is promulgated through the dutyholders operational and learning database. Resolution of events is tracked through an Event Tracking process. I judged these arrangements to be effective.
Plant Walkdown
During the plant walkdown I identified a high level of housekeeping and Covid-19 discipline was noted.
During the walkdown I questioned if the overhead crane in the dispatch bay had a pre utilisation check regarding its use in low temperatures. The dutyholder was unable to confirm if the buildings internal temperature was checked. This has subsequently been raised with the nominated site inspector to follow up as part of their normal regulatory business
Conclusion of Intervention
Based on evidence gathered from this inspection I judged that site was compliant with transport legislation for the carriage of class 7 dangerous goods.