The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

NDA Sites Monthly Performance Update

General Evaluation - Key Elements

• Full sets of Earned Value (EV) data were not available for all SLCs for period 1.
• Electricity generation for period 1 2008/9 was above planned.

Year to Date Cost and Schedule Performance
Due to work involved in implementing the new programmes of work for 2008/09 a full sets of Earned Value (EV) data was not available in time for period 1. Actual costs have been received from all SLCs.

Please note: We use Earned Value Performance Management to measure programme performance. This compares the budgeted cost of work that was scheduled with the budgeted cost of work that was actually performed to determine schedule performance and the budgeted cost  of work actually performed with its actual cost to determine cost performance.

Electricity generation at the fleet of Magnox nuclear reactors operated by the NDA was above target for period 1 2008/09.

Items of Interest

Key Elements

• At Sellafield the Residue Export Facility (REF) Project achieved a major project milestone.
• Dungeness A entered into bulk defuelling.
• Good progress has been made on active commissioning at the Dounreay Cementation Plant.

At Sellafield the Residue Export Facility (REF) Project achieved a major project milestone this period with the receipt of its Licence Instrument to take the plant into active commissioning. Work has started to carry out the active connections to the Vitrified Product Store Final recruitment for the operational teams has started and is progressing well.

Dungeness A entered into bulk defuelling in period 1. This takes the site into the Defuelling phase and is the conclusion of a large number of engineering modifications and plant testing. The first official fuel element of bulk defuelling was removed on the 1 April as planned.

The Dounreay Cementation Plant (DCP) active commissioning continues including receipt of two batches of raffinate from D1208. (Out of period 18 drums cemented by 14 May 08).

Safety and Environment Performance

Safety and Environment - Key Elements

• One INES Level 1 event at Bradwell.
• Five RIDDOR reportable events at Sellafield (2), Sizewell A(1), Springfields (1) and Trawsfynydd (1).
• Two Environment non-compliances at Dounreay (1) and Hinkley Point A (1).

Dosimetry is the measurement of absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from the exposure to ionizing radiations.

Nuclear Safety

One events rated at Level 1 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) has been reported as occurring at NDA sites during the month.

At Bradwell, on completion of a task to retrieve three floating skips from the cooling ponds, five members of the working party were found to have exceeded the action level as stated on the Radiological Control Document.

Radiological Protection

Discussions are ongoing with the Site Licence Companies (SLCs) to adopt a wider set of safety and environmental reporting metrics and to improve the assurance of dosimetry reporting in particular. As a consequence, no dosimetry information was received from a number of sites this period. The dose data in the year to date will be reported in future periods.

Dosimetry is the measurement of absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from the exposure to ionizing radiations.

Industrial Health and Safety

Five events reportable under RIDDOR have occurred in the month.

• At Sellafield, a worker was seriously injured when he became trapped between a flask and a handrail. He was transferred to hospital, where he remains, as a result of his injuries. The event is therefore reportable as a Major Injury.
• At Sellafield, a contractor injured his shin when it was struck by the hammer that he was using. Eight days later, the contractor felt unwell and was admitted to hospital where he received treatment for five days. The event is therefore reportable as a Major Injury.
• At Sizewell A, a worker tripped, fell and sustained a broken rib.
• At Springfields, an employee suffered a broken wrist whilst making routine deliveries.
• At Trawsfynydd, a worker tripped over a bag in an office and cut their head.

RIDDOR stands for the reporting of injuries diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995. RIDDOR '95 requires the reporting of work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences. It applies to all work activities, but not to all incidents.

Environmental Protection

Two environmental non-compliances have been reported in this period.

• A letter was received by Dounreay from SEPA with issues relating to non-compliance with the Environmental Monitoring Programme as specified in the RSA Certificate of Authorisation. This is equivalent to an Environment Agency CCS Category 4 non-compliance.
• At Hinkley Point A, during a plant inspection, several HEPA filter bank pre-filters were noted to be damaged. A subsequent review of maintenance records by the site has shown that the scheduled monthly inspections of the pre-filter units were not completed between June 2005 and February 2008. The inspection of the pre-filters does not form part of the maintenance schedule or environmental maintenance schedule arrangements.

An Environmental Non Compliance is a breach of a permit condition set by the Environment Agency or the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency that prevents or controls risk of pollution to the environment.

Safety Achievements

The Wylfa site has been awarded an International Safety Award from the British Safety Council following their 5 star rating from the British Safety Council audit in the last financial year.

The Berkeley site has received re-certification to ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 18001 (health and safety management).

Please note We give the actual number of occurrences in each category. Not all sites employ the same number of people and/or undertake the same activities. This must be taken into account before comparisons between sites can be made.