The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

NDA Sites Monthly Performance Update

General Evaluation - Key Elements

• The programme delivers work below budgeted costs.
• Programme schedule performance is inline with expectations.
• Electricity generation for Period 3 and Year to Date is above planned.

For financial year 2008/9 site plans are over pressured. This means that the NDA set budgets for sites that contained more scope of work than funding released. Setting over pressured budgets is a tactic to build the sites cost efficiency target into their baseline scope. It is important to note that sites can only carry out the total value of work in their budget by making the necessary savings to fund the over pressured work.

Year to Date Cost and Schedule Performance
At the end of June 2008, the programme delivered work for less than expected costs. Measured against the year to date budget the programme of work at the end of June is broadly in line with expectations

Electricity generation  at the fleet of Magnox nuclear reactors operated by the NDA is above target for June 2008 and Year to Date.

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.

Items of Interest

Key Elements

• Harwell and Winfrith move closer to relicensing as Research Sites Restoration Limited (RSRL).
• Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Store at Hunterston A is delivered on target cost and ahead of requirement.
• Dungeness A investigates new ways of storing Intermediate Level Waste (ILW).

The regulator has agreed that Harwell and Winfrith have entered shadow working. Completion of shadow working is a prerequisite to relicensing as Research Sites Restoration Limited (RSRL). Relicensing is due to take place later this year.

A significant site milestone was achieved at Hunterston A during the month when the Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Store construction consortium handed over the store to the site operations team. The £35 million plant was delivered on target cost and ahead of requirement.

The first Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Mini Store flask/cask in the UK was on view at Dungeness A during the month. These are self shielded boxes that are transportable and would allow waste retrieval and packaging to begin immediately and could form the basis of an alternative concept of ILW storage. The site is investigating the use of these ILW flasks/casks for the ILW Tank Augmentation Project.

Safety and Environment Performance

Safety and Environment - Key Elements

• Two INES Level 1 events.
• Three RIDDOR reportable events.
• Four environmental non-compliances

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

Nuclear Safety

Two International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) events relating to Maintenance Schedule arrangements have been reported from NDA sites during the period.

• An investigation into a failure to implement Maintenance Schedule arrangements following a modification at Trawsfynydd has confirmed that the event should be categorised as INES Level 1.
• At Sellafield, four proof tests required by the Plant Maintenance Schedule associated with the B38 3rd extension ventilation system were not fully completed within the appropriate timescales. This event has been categorised as INES Level 1.

Radiological Protection

The sites provide data on average individual dose, maximum individual dose and collective dose. These metrics are measured separately for SLC employees and for contractors. Dose figures are reported by calendar year rather than financial year and the following two graphs show average individual doses and maximum individual doses respectively (ordered by employee dose) for dosimeters worn by workers in calendar year 2008 and processed to date. Average individual doses and maximum individual doses should be compared with (and are all below) the legal annual limit of 20 mSv.

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

Industrial Health and Safety

Three events reportable under RIDDOR have occurred in the period.

• At Sellafield, whilst removing a lid from an empty stainless steel product drum brought into the building, the lid dropped from the Pillar Jib “Pick & Place” unit. No injury occurred to the operator. As the equipment is registered as lifting equipment and the vacuum suction devices which represent a component of the load bearing parts appear to have failed, the event has been reported as a Dangerous Occurrence.
• At Sellafield, during the erection of scaffold, a lamp shade dropped off and hit a scaffolder on the neck / head knocking his hat off. The contractor initially reported that he was unhurt and completed his normal working hours. Subsequently, information was received that the scaffolder was unavailable for work as a result of the accident for greater than three days.
• At Sellafield, a contractor was walking down stairs when she fell to the ground as she reached the bottom step. She was taken to surgery and then transferred to hospital for x-ray where a broken fibula was diagnosed. The event is therefore reportable as a Major Injury.

NOTE: 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

Windscale have reported four environmental non-compliances at the lowest reporting level on the Environment Agency Compliance Classification Scheme reflecting minor issues with sampling equipment. The issues were addressed immediately.

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

Bradwell and Hunterston A demonstrated their emergency arrangements in Level 1 Emergency Exercises.

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.