Nuclear Safety Audits

During 2005, the Nuclear Compliance Team undertook 35 Nuclear Safety Audits around DML's Nuclear Licenced Site. Assurance was gained by assessing verbal and material evidence confirming that departmental arrangements and processes complied with the requirements of the Devonport Nuclear Safety Standard, which is the key interfacing document between the requirements of the Nuclear Licence, MoD Authorisation, and the Business Management System.

Issues identified as not fully meeting the requirements of the standard are formally recorded and managers are actioned to improve their arrangements. This process is monitored by all levels of management so that business and safety arrangements are continually improved

Radiological Safety Audits

In addition to nuclear safety audits, 11 radiological safety audits were carried out covering a wide range of activities. The majority of audits were carried out against the Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd Radiation Safety Standard, but the more specialised audits were carried out against a variety of standards, including UK safety legislation. The most significant audit was conducted on the radioactive store within the Devonport Distribution Facility (DDF). This new facility is owned by the MoD but operated by DML. Three audits focussed on control of radioactive materials and found a much improved situation compared with previous years, with only 3 non-conformance reports (NCRs) issued. One NCR was also raised during an audit on leak testing of radioactive sources. In addition to raising NCRs, a number of observations were made during each audit on how processes/arrangements could be improved.
In addition to these internal audits carried out by DML personnel, external authorities, including regulators, carried out 3 specialised radiation safety inspections. These consisted of an inspection to assess compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, an inspection to assess compliance with the High Activity Sealed Source Radioactive Sources and Orphan Sources Regulations 2005, and an inspection of DML's waste management arrangements. No significant issues were identified from these audits and DML was commended for its arrangements for radiation exposure control.

Business Management Systems Audits

In 2005, the Management Systems Compliance auditors continued to undertake audits across the company, supporting a number of key areas within DML. They also continued to support the business at DML Appledore, with nine assessments completed at the north Devon site.

During 2005, eighteen departmental assessments were carried out across the company, assessing a wide range of activities within each department, ensuring compliance with DML's Business Management System and identifying areas of improvement to the business. The auditors also identified thirteen processes within the company for review. These process audits cut across departments and sample the process in many different areas across the company. These activities will continue into 2006.

In addition to the departmental assessments and process audits the auditors carried out eleven Management Systems Health Checks, in accordance with the Devonport Management System Standard, throughout the year.

Lloyds Register Quality Assurance completed two successful assessments of DML's Business Management System during 2005, maintaining the company's registration to the International Quality Standard ISO9001: 2000.

Operating Experience Feedback (OEF) is the process of recording and investigating events to determine the root cause, and to apply the lessons learned to prevent recurrence.

The lessons learned from an event in one area of the site may be of value in other areas, as may lessons from events on other sites, both in the UK, and elsewhere.

Reporting of events is made easy, meaning events, no matter how trivial, can be reported. Awareness of the repetition of minor events is important so that corrective action can be taken to prevent a more significant event materialising. A steady publicity campaign keeps people aware of the need to report events. Events ranging from minor traffic offences to more significant health and safety issues are reported rapidly both within the company and, if necessary, to the appropriate external authorities.

All events are reported to the appropriate manager and followed through by the OEF team to ensure satisfactory close-out. This close-out can involve local actions being introduced or, where it is recognised that there is potential for improvements across the company, corporate initiatives being introduced.

Lessons learned from events are promulgated across the company. Regular poster campaigns tell the workforce of current OEF issues and areas for improvement. The OEF database, which contains details of all events and detailed analysis of events and event trends, is available to all areas of the company, allowing lessons learnt from past events to be used to improve safety in the future.

DML has strong links with other nuclear operators to exchange information on OEF processes and the lessons learnt from events. DML is a member of two Operating Experience and Learning Group Fora, one centring on civilian nuclear operators and one centring on operators, builders and maintainers of the nuclear submarine fleet, which is attended by most nuclear operators in the UK. DML also maintains a dialogue with British Energy, MoD and AWE Aldermaston.