Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
November 2025
Aim of inspection
The purpose of the inspection was to judge if Sheffield Forgemaster’s (Material balance area QFGM) arrangements were adequate to maintain compliance with the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19). Judgement was gained by sampling arrangements that satisfy the following:
- Regulation 3 - Declaration of basic technical characteristics
- Regulation 6 – Accountancy and control of qualifying material
- Regulation 7 – Accountancy and control plan
- Regulation 8 - Replacement, amendment and revocation of accountancy and control plan
- Regulation 9 – Operation of an accountancy and control plan
- Regulation 10 – Operating records
- Regulation 11 – Accounting records
- Regulation 31(5) – Specifically, changes to the basic technical characteristics, physical inventory take and changes to the inventory
ONR reviewed QFGM's accountancy records and supporting documentation against the requirements of NSR19. This took account of ONR’s Fundamental Safeguards Expectations (FSEs) outlined in the ONR Guidance for Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS). Sampling both reached an independent and informed judgement on whether the submitted and supporting arrangements are adequate in accounting for and controlling qualifying nuclear material at QFGM.
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 1 Leadership and Management for NMACS - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 10 Quality Assurance and Control for NMACS - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 2 Organisational Culture - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 3 Competence Management - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 4 Reporting, Anomalies, and Investigations - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 5 Reliability, Resilience and Sustainability - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 6 Measurement Programme and Control - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 7 Nuclear Material Tracking - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 8 Data Processing and Control - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 9 Material Balance - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg03 - Declaration of basic technical characteristics - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg06 - Accountancy and control of qualifying nuclear material - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg07 - Accountancy and control plan - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg08 - Replacement, amendment and revocation of accountancy and control plan - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg09 - Operation of an accountancy and control plan - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg10 - Operating records - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg11 - Accounting records - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg31 - Declaration of basic technical characteristics, stock list and accounting records for qualifying nu- Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
The inspection was held at the Sheffield Forgemasters site (Material Balance Area reference QFGM) on Brightside Lane in Sheffield to judge compliance with the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19). The reason for the inspection was to judge the adequacy of their arrangements for their recently acquired Qualifying Nuclear Material (QNM).
To inform my judgements on the adequacy of the arrangements and implementation of Nuclear Material Accountancy and Controls Systems (NMACS), I utilised the Safeguards Technical Assessment Guidance (TAG) [SG-TAST-GD-001 – Issue 4], the Safeguards Technical Inspection Guidance (TIG) [SG-INSP-GD-001 – Issue 4] and safeguards expectations as described in the ONR guidance for Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS) [ONR-SAF-FW-001 – Issue 5].
I held discussions with those responsible for QFGM NMACS, including the Site NDT Manager and Radiation Supervisor, and in my opinion, they understood their responsibilities. I reviewed the dutyholders Accountancy and Control Plan (ACP), Basic Technical characteristics (BTC) documents and other relevant documents provided on request which demonstrated compliance with the requirements of NSR19. I completed a plant walkdown of where the QNM was stored plus the associated areas where QNM access is managed, the location and storage of the QNM was in line with the BTC.
Based on the discussions held and documents reviewed I judge that there are minor shortfalls with the NMACS arrangements for compliance with NSR19, but as the shortfalls are minor I have rate this intervention as GREEN. One regulatory issue was raised to address improvements required for the QFGM ACP relating to leadership and management for NMACs, the reporting of anomalies, quality assurance and control.
One regulatory issue has been raised.
Five pieces of regulatory guidance were provided to strengthen their compliance with NSR19.
Conclusion
ACP Compliance
I judged there were shortfalls in QFGM's arrangements regarding:
- FSE 1 - Leadership and management for NMACS
- FSE 4 - Reporting anomalies and investigations
- FSE 10 - Quality assurance and control for NMACS
I have raised one regulatory issue to address improvements required within the QFGM ACP to address the above shortfalls.
I judged arrangements against all other FSEs were adequate in ensuring compliance with NSR19.
BTC Compliance
I observed that the BTC matched what was seen in practice during the plant walkdown.