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Andrew Brown

Principal Assessor – Criticality

Westinghouse Springfields Fuels Limited

Experience of Inspections

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Highlights

Background – my career and what we do at SFL
Inspections – why do we do them?
Experience – how I used to conduct them, what I do now.
Some observations of the process and examples.
Final thoughts

Feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences!

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Background

Degree in Applied Physics.
Started working at Springfields Fuels Limited in 1995 (when it was still BNFL).
Spent several years at Sellafield and enjoyed / survived it!
Since 2000 I have been involved in Criticality Safety at SFL.
Since 2012 I have worked for SFL – 2 full time criticality safety specialist, 1 in house contractor and NNL for project and Operational Support (including inspections).
Member of the Working Party on Criticality (WPC).

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Quick Overview of Springfields Fuels Limited.

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Working Party on Criticality- A good source of information!

This talk is not intended to say how you should do an inspection, all licensees/oragnisations will have their own approaches.
However, some additional information contained in the WPC Workshop from 2012 on Good Practice.
Happy to answer any questions about the workshop etc offline.

The WPC has lots of good practice guides, LFE and information on a range of activities including inspections.

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Inspections – why do we do them?

To gain assurance that ‘we are safe’, that the safety assessments we have written cover actually what the plant do and how they work.
They supplement the inspections carried out by the plant themselves.
Not trying to catch the plant out and we are not the police. It’s ok not to find issues.
They are important but just one of many activities that should tell an organisation whether the ‘criticality health’ of the organisation is good – there is a WPC sub group on this if you are interested!

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Inspections – A leading or lagging Indicator of safety performance?

What are your thoughts?
In some ways a lagging indicator if you are spotting non-compliance. Good to resolve issues but why are they happening – root cause/ trending etc.
The Plant are responsible but may not see or react to a gradual decline in control.
This is what I have predominantly observed during inspections. Rather than acute loss of control (which you hope would not happen due to x,y,z and/or would be spotted by the plant and resolved promptly).

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Some general advice / my experience

It helps to know the area you are inspecting and to do the preparation.
Involve the correct people, I rarely have inspected on my own.
Exhibit the correct behaviours.
Be clear on any findings you make whilst you are with Operators/Management.
Fix things then and there if safe to do so and practicable.
Respond to questions / concerns.
Does it look / feel safe?

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What I used to do

Lots of preparation – limited experience of process, safety case/assessments, criticality safety incidents/near misses, previous inspection findings etc.
Look in detail at a large amount of Plant documentation.
Visit every area, behind doors and walls!
Have detailed reports with lots of observations, findings, recommendation but no overall conclusion
None of the above is necessarily wrong but it takes a lot of time to do correctly and need to remember the aim of the inspection.

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What I do now

Use my experience of processes, safety cases, criticality safety incidents/near misses, previous inspection findings etc. Much easier!
Think ahead what am I interested in – based on experience, trends (inside and outside SFL).
Sample and then delve deeper as needed – regulators tend to use a similar approach.
Feedback promptly and try to help the Plant Operators / Management get back to ‘Green’.
Overall conclusion – Red/Amber/Green (RAG) ratings, action closure.

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What I do now

Consider other hazards – conventional, chemotoxic, radiological.
I ask the plant personnel to talk me through the process as I do the inspection. You can identify gaps in your own knowledge.
Place more emphasis on how issues are addressed – timeliness of resolution and effectiveness.
Try to observe others doing inspections or invite ‘new starters’ not necessarily criticality safety assessors.

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Observations and examples

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Final thoughts

How often should you do inspections – is once every X months suitable?
Inspections are just a snapshot – need to consider other aspects and metrics.
I am still learning now and refining how I do the inspections – no right or wrong way provided you meet the objectives of the inspection.
There are probably a few people in the audience who have done inspections, any thoughts?

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And relax….

Thank you to Emma and Amy for the Invite (in case I forget!).

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