Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
October 2025
Aim of inspection
The purpose of this intervention is to review arrangements Dounreay has implemented to address compliance gaps identified in Improvement Notice ONR-IN-25-01.
Subject(s) of inspection
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
In April 2025 ONR issued an Improvement Notice (IN-25-01) concerning arrangements to control significant handling operations at the Dounreay site. The Improvement Notice Schedule set out the following areas to be addressed:
- NRS Dounreay to have appropriate arrangements to ensure that:
- all significant handling activities with elevated risks are appropriately identified;
- a suitable & sufficient assessment of the risk is made;
- commensurate control measures are identified including adequate arrangements to ensure that work equipment selected for the task is used only for operations for which, and under conditions for which, it is suitable.
And
- Implement the aforementioned arrangements.
Or
- Take any equally effective measures to remedy the said contraventions.
The aim of this inspection was to confirm that sufficient action has been taken to demonstrate compliance with the Improvement Notice. Dounreay has produced new procedures to identify, risk assess and provide control measures for manual handling activities, the inspection primarily involved reviewing these procedures.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence sampled during the inspection I am satisfied that significant progress has been made to improve arrangements for significant handling operations. Subject to the identified outstanding areas being addressed, I have confidence that Improvement Notice IN-25-01 will be complied with by the due date of 24th October. I therefore rate the inspection GREEN.
The outstanding areas to be addressed are as follows:
Guidance should be provided in the Risk Assessment Process for what constitutes a ‘Significant Hazard’
Explicit consideration in the procedures to ensure the most suitable equipment is selected for the task
These aspects have been agreed with Dounreay.