Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: April 2024
Aim of inspection
The purpose of this intervention was to inspect compliance against the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17) in the A1/A50 facility. AWE have contracted Amentum (UK) Ltd (Amemtum) to carry out decommissioning of high hazard gloveboxes in A1/A50 facility. Amentum have been appointed as Principal Contractor (PC) under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), thereby giving them control of the premises, including designation of areas under IRR17. The intervention will also consider the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and Guidance in support of IRR17 as presented in L121 Rev 2 “Work with ionising radiation”, and the relevant Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)s Technical Assessment Guides (TAGs) and Technical Inspection Guides (TIGs):
- ONR-NS-TAST-GD-038 – Radiological Protection
- ONR-NS-INSP-GD-054 – The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017
- ONR-INSP-GD-064 – General Inspection Guide
Subject(s) of inspection
- IRR17 - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
This was a planned inspection of the radiological protection arrangements made and implemented by the Duty Holder (the Atomic Weapons Establishment Plc - AWE) under the IRR17 in the A1/A50 facility at AWE Aldermaston. The Duty Holder's radiological protection arrangements and compliance with these arrangements within A1/A50 facility was sampled across a number of representative Regulations within IRR17 and the inspection was conducted via discussions with key Duty Holder personnel, the sampling of Duty Holder records and by a walk-down of the clean side of the Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) of A1/A50 as there was no significant work underway in the decommissioning area. The conclusion of the inspection was that the Duty Holder has adequate radiological protection arrangements in place, and is complying with these arrangements and is hence meeting the legal requirements imposed by IRR17 in the context of decommissioning in A1/A50. I have made three minor Observations where arrangements could be improved these will be followed up with the AWE Corporate RPA during routine regulatory business.
Conclusion
A compliance inspection against the IRR17 was conducted at AWE in the A1/A50 facility. The inspection found that AWE has adequate arrangements for compliance with the requirements of IRR17 relating to Regulations 8, 9, 13, 14,16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 26 and 31 and therefore we consider that an inspection rating of Green (no formal action is required although I have identified three minor Observations where arrangements could be improved these will be followed up with the AWE Corporate RPA during routine regulatory business) is assigned to this inspection.