Office for Nuclear Regulation

Rutherford Appleton Laboratories (Site) – Inspection ID: 52187

Executive summary

Date(s) of inspection:

  • March 2023

Aim of inspection

Inspect compliance of the dutyholder’s arrangements for the transport of class 7 radioactive material.

Subject(s) of inspection

  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Appropriate management system – rating: Amber
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Contingency plans in accordance with IRR Reg 13 – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor subsection 1.8.3 ADR – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Designation of Controlled or supervised areas Reg 17 IRR17 – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Emergency arrangements – rating: Not Rated
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) IRR17 Regulation 19 additional requirements – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Local rules Reg 18 IRR17 – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Radiation Protection Adviser Reg 14 IRR17 – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Radiation Risk Assessment Reg 8 of IRR 17 – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Security Plan – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Sub contract arrangements – rating: Green
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Training – rating: Amber
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Transport documentation – rating: Not Rated
  • Transport (Non-nuclear) Vehicle Requirements Part 8 – rating: Cancelled

Key findings, inspector’s opinions and reasons for judgement made

The inspectors reviewed a range of topics and identified a number of examples of the dutyholder meeting relevant good practice in reducing risk to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable, including Radiation Risk Assessments, development and implementation of Local Rules, the appointment and availability of Radiation Protection Advisors and Dangerous Goods Safety Advisors, and Contingency Plans supporting multi-agency response to a radiation emergency.

Conclusion

The inspectors identified several elements of good practice where the dutyholder had met the requirements of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009, and Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017.

The inspectors found a shortfall against the transport management system and against training.

A regulatory issue has been raised to track and manage these shortfalls towards resolution.