Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
June 2025
Aim of inspection
The aim of the inspection is to establish if NRS emergency arrangements are appropriate and are adequately implemented during the site annual test Waxwing.
The inspection will also consider the licensee IRR17 arrangements and target the Chapelcross Process Plant (CXPP) for appropriate implementation of these arrangements.
Subject(s) of inspection
- IRR17 - Rating: GREEN
- LC 11 - Emergency arrangements - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
This report presents the findings of a planned intervention that was undertaken to assess compliance with Licence Condition 11 – Emergency arrangements at the Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Chapelcross nuclear licenced site. This involved witnessing a Level 1 contingency exercise “Waxwing”. I also undertook an Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17) inspection targeting the implementation of these arrangements at the Chapelcross Process Plant (CXPP) and the management of sealed sources.
The inspection team comprised the nominated site inspector and a radiation protection inspector.
For LC11, I witnessed the NRS implementation of the emergency arrangements during exercise “Waxwing”. I made several observations where NRS could improve however I determined that NRS made an adequate demonstration of their site contingency arrangements.
For IRR17, I undertook this inspection to examine NRS Chapelcross site management and physical arrangements for controlling exposure to ionising radiations. This was one of the planned IRR17 inspections during 2025-26 in support of the Office for Nuclear Regulation Decommissioning Fuel and Waste sub-division strategy.
I conducted the inspection via discussions with licensee personnel, the sampling of licensee documentation and a site area walk-down. It is my opinion that NRS has taken adequate steps for compliance with IRR17 to reduce doses to site personnel from site operations.
Conclusion
I sampled and reviewed the licensee’s arrangements against the IRR17 provisions listed in the aim of inspection, and the implementation of those arrangements at the NRS Chapelcross site. Based on the evidence sampled at the time of this inspection, it is my judgement that Chapelcross is implementing effective arrangements for compliance with the requirements of IRR17. I also highlighted opportunities for the licensee to achieve better alignment with published relevant good practice.
I judged NRS implementation of the sampled IRR17 regulations to reduce doses to the employees in the areas inspected to be adequate and assign a rating of GREEN.
For LC11 I witnessed site contingency exercise “Waxwing”. I observed areas of good practice as well as areas for improvement. It is my overall opinion that this was an adequate demonstration of the site contingency arrangements against a challenging and complex scenario involving the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Fire Service and assign a rating of GREEN.