Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
February 2026
Aim of inspection
The purpose of the inspection is to review compliance of the dutyholder’s arrangements for class 7 radioactive material for road transport, covering consignor, carrier and consignee duties.
Subject(s) of inspection
- Transport - Carrier Duties - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Consignee Duties - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Consignor Duties - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Dangerous Goods Safety Advice - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Emergency/Contingency Planning and Testing - Rating: AMBER
- Transport - Incidents, Events and Reporting processes - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Management Systems - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Radiation Protection Advisor - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Radiation Protection Programme - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Radiation Risk Assessment - Rating: AMBER
- Transport - Security - Rating: AMBER
- Transport - Training and Competence - Rating: GREEN
- Transport - Vehicle equipment and Placarding/Markings - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
The inspector identified several instances where the dutyholder met relevant good practice in reducing risk to levels that are ALARP including, suitable IRR17 registration and consent. In addition the inspector sampled a number of the dutyholder’s procedures and arrangements which covered aspects of transport to determine if the dutyholder is compliant with CDG09.
The inspector identified six areas of non-compliance (radiation risk assessment, emergency arrangements, contingency plan, security, instructions in writing and contamination monitoring). Consequently, a Level 3 regulatory issue was raised to monitor improvements in these areas. These were discussed during the inspection.
Conclusion
The inspection findings were presented to Sonomatic Ltd at the close of the inspection.
Due to systematic failure to comply with administrative legal requirements, I judged an overall inspection rating of amber was appropriate for this inspection.
I applied ONR’s Enforcement Management Model to determine an appropriate regulatory response, which in this instance was the issue of an enforcement letter due to non-compliances identified. Sonomatic Ltd is required to provide to ONR with evidence that the identified non-compliances have been resolved by 24 April 2026. The non-compliances will be tracked to completion via a Level 3 Regulatory Issue.