Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
- March 2025
Aim of inspection
This inspection was an ONR assessment of the Heysham 1 annual Level 1 Emergency Exercise "Atlas". The inspection consisted of observing EDF Energy NGL staff at Heysham 1 nuclear power station deploying its emergency arrangements to control a simulated emergency incident. This inspection judged the adequacy of compliance with licence condition (LC) 11 – Emergency arrangements and Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) 2019 (REPPIR 19) regulations 4 and 12.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC11 - Emergency arrangements - Rating: Green
- REPPIR - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
The ONR team and I observed and assessed the level 1 emergency exercise ‘Atlas’ at the EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd. (NGL) Heysham 1 power station.
The emergency scenario involved a loss of Grid event requiring a reactor to be resealed/repressurised, two missing persons, three casualties, the deployment of back up equipment and the main Access Control Point (ACP) to be unavailable.
The licensee's emergency response achieved the following key outcomes. They established on-site command centres (Central Control Room (CCR), Emergency Control Centre (ECC) and alternative Access Control Point (AACP)) and the corporate Central Emergency Support Centre (CESC) was set-up to support the station. The Incident Response Team (IRT) and Standby Response Team (SERT) were also deployed.
Areas for improvement were identified and a minor regulatory issue raised to track completion of actions for improvements in the areas of a full site muster and contamination controls with respect to casualty management.
I was satisfied that the exercise was appropriately challenging with suitable objectives, and that it was appropriately planned and executed. I judged that the licensee's performance met the legal requirements and we have awarded a GREEN (no formal action) inspection rating against licence condition (LC) 11 (Emergency arrangements).
Conclusion
During this exercise demonstration, EDF Heysham 1 demonstrated the implementation of their arrangements for dealing with any accident or emergency arising on the site and their effects in line with LC 11(1), LC11(5) and REPPIR regulation 4(4) and 12(1). In my opinion, these arrangements were adequate.
I judged that the licensee's performance met the legal requirements and have awarded a GREEN (no formal action) inspection rating against licence condition (LC) 11 (Emergency arrangements) with minor shortfalls that have been agreed by the site and a plan is in place to rectify these.