Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
December 2025
Aim of inspection
The aim of the inspection was to sample the Sellafield Ltd, management system arrangements for right first-time delivery of physical and electronic records, including corporate and local arrangements, for operation of safety related structures, systems, and components (SSCs), waste packages and compliance with Licence Condition (LC) 6 and (LC) 25. This included sampling the effectiveness of the planned improvements in response to ONR Level 3 (L3) regulatory (RI) 11872 “Sellafield - Records Management Shortfalls (Site-Wide)”.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC6 - Documents, records, authorities and certificates - Rating: Green
- LC25 - Operational records - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
The purpose of this inspection was to seek assurance that Sellafield Ltd. has implemented adequate management system arrangements associated with LC06 (Documents, records, authorities and certificates) and LC25 (Operational records) to inform a regulatory judgement regarding the licensee’s compliance with relevant statutory provisions and good practice. The inspection also sampled the planned improvements relating to the current live ONR Level 3 (L3) regulatory (RI) 11872 “Sellafield Ltd. - Records Management Shortfalls (Site-Wide)”
This inspection consisted of two parts and was undertaken on 04 December 2025 at the Box Encapsulation Plant Product Store - Direct Import Facility, (BEPPS-DIF) and 25 March 2026 at the Miscellaneous Beta Gamma Waste Store (MBGWS) facility.
The ONR inspection team comprised of Supply Chain (SC) and Quality (Q) Specialist Inspectors and a Nuclear Liabilities Regulation Inspector (NLR). The ONR Site Inspector for Retrievals East River and SIXEP/SCP participated in the inspection at BEPPS-DIF.
Based on the discussions held and evidence sampled during the inspection, examples of good practice were identified which included the development of records management arrangements and good discipline and record keeping practices in the completion of records.
Overall, I have concluded that an inspection rating of Green, no formal action, is appropriate. I considered that relevant good practice was met when compared to appropriate benchmarks.
I provided regulatory advice relating to identified areas for improvement, and I raised a number of minor observations for Sellafield Ltd. consideration which will be followed up via routine engagements.
Conclusion
Based on the sampled areas examined during the inspection, I am satisfied that adequate arrangements are in place in line with the expectations of LC6 and LC25. I also gained confidence that where appropriate the improvements related to the L3 RI 11872 are being implemented.
In accordance with ONR guidance on the application of inspection ratings, I judge that an inspection rating of green is appropriate.
Where appropriate, ONR plan to follow up on the regulatory advice provided and related issues via ONR and Sellafield Ltd. routine engagements.