Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
October 2025
Aim of inspection
This exercise was undertaken by the dutyholder across the Burghfield Site to test its emergency arrangements and demonstrate compliance with both the requirements of Licence Condition 11 (LC11) and The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR). The evaluation of this exercise also aligns with Key Regulatory Objective 4 of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Weapons Sub-Directorate Strategy, which is associated with providing assurance to our stakeholders that activities that may impact upon safety, are planned, and conducted in accordance with the appropriate legislative requirements and that all risks have been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC11 - Emergency arrangements - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
AWE held the annual Burghfield Level 1 Site Exercise (demonstration of emergency arrangements) on 8th October 2025. A joint regulators inspection team evaluated the exercise. This team comprised of inspectors from both ONR and the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) . The inspection team observed elements of good practice throughout the demonstration, for example in regard to effective command and control, emergency management protocols being followed and situational awareness. The inspection team identified some minor areas for improvement in relation to the following:
- communication between responders in support of casualty care and handling of evacuees
muster co-ordination - consistent understanding of systems relating to dose disapplication for emergency workers
facilitating access/egress of offsite resource AWE staff recognised these improvement points during their own review of exercise performance and discussion with regulators.
This exercise was an adequate demonstration of the dutyholders emergency arrangements and a GREEN rating was awarded in accordance with ONR's guidance.
Conclusion
Overall, I am content that this was an adequate test of the dutyholders emergency arrangements and if this were a real emergency, the dutyholder team would have coped on the day. Based on the areas sampled, relevant good practice was generally met with some minor shortfalls identified and raised with the dutyholder for its consideration and action. ONR will follow-up on the minor shortfalls as part of its routine business as usual activities. Therefore, a GREEN rating (No formal action) was awarded.