Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: July 2024
Aim of inspection
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) regulates Sellafield site in accordance with the ONR Sellafield strategy. One of the three key outcomes of the strategy requires evidence-based confidence that the licensee is complying with its statutory obligations and that workers and the public are protected from the hazards of the site.
In accordance with the key outcome, I undertook an inspection of Sellafield Ltd.’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo (PFCS) to gain assurance that the company was adequately complying with the requirements of Licence Condition (LC) 28.
LC 28 requires Sellafield Ltd. to make and implement adequate arrangements for the regular and systematic examination, inspection, maintenance and testing (EMIT) of all plant which may affect safety. My inspection focused on structures systems and components (SSC) associated with PFCS silo intermediate radioactive waste retrievals. I was assisted by an ONR electrical engineering (EE) specialist inspector.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC28 - Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
My inspection focused on gaining an overview of PFCS LC 28 compliance activities associated with radioactive waste retrievals. I chose not to focus on known problems, particularly lifting equipment faults and reliability. ONR’s oversight of Sellafield Ltd.'s plans to address these problems is maintained with routine interactions with the facility staff. My inspection consisted of a guided inspection of PFCS retrievals Structures, Systems and Components (SSC), discussions with facility engineering staff, and sampling LC 28-related documents. I was assisted by an ONR electrical engineering specialist inspector.
Conclusion
In my opinion, based on the evidence sampled, Sellafield Ltd. is adequately implementing on PFCS the company arrangements for complying with LC28. I consider an ONR inspection rating of green, no formal action, is appropriate.