Our regulators
We believe that the UK nuclear industry is one of the toughest industrial regimes in the world. Developed over 60 years of managing and operating plants within stringent regulations, we have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the UK regulatory environment. We always aim to comply with authorisations and requirements laid down by our regulators; seeking the highest standards possible through the use of continuous improvement systems.
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
The HSE is split into several inspectorates with specialist knowledge; the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) is one of them.
The NII has site inspectors at all UK installations and has the power to inspect and take enforcement action against any site deemed to be unsafe.
Under UK law (the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974) employers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their workers and the public. This is just as true for a nuclear site as for any other. This responsibility is reinforced for nuclear installations by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (NIA). Under the relevant statutory provisions of the NIA, a site cannot have nuclear plant on it unless the operator has been granted a site licence by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Office for Civil Nuclear Security
The Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) regulates security arrangements for the protection of nuclear and radioactive material on licensed civil nuclear sites. They also monitor sensitive nuclear information under the new Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003.
EHS&Q inspectors
We employ a full time Environment, Health, Safety and Quality Inspector (EHS&Q) at each of our sites. This person's role is to constantly monitor our activities, ensuring they comply with all legislation.
They offer advice on compliance and safety issues. They act as the internal critical eye reporting directly to a Magnox South senior executive and when appropriate to external agencies.
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency was set up following the 1995 Environment Act. As a non-departmental public body, its main sponsors are the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). As the most important environmental regulator in England and Wales, the Agency's principal role is to protect and enhance the environment and to contribute towards sustainable development. Its work involves:
Authorisations
The Agency issues various permits, licences, consents and registrations. These range from major industrial authorisations, such as a licence to operate a nuclear power station or take water from rivers, down to recreational licenses such as fishing.
Inspection and monitoring
The Agency regularly inspects and monitors licence holders to make sure standards are being met.
Each UK site has an Environment Agency inspector who works closely with personnel on a wide range of environmental management plans.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA)
The FSA was created in April 2000, assuming responsibility for food safety issues originally controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). It is an independent watchdog established to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food safety.
The FSA measures radioactivity in the environment around nuclear installations and monitors local herbage, milk and seafood on behalf of the Environment Agency.
International Atomic Energy Agency
The IAEA was set up in 1957 as the ‘Atoms for Peace’ organisation. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies.
Euratom
The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) is an international organisation composed of members from the European Union. It was established in 1957 by the second treaty of Rome. The members pledged themselves to the common development of Europe's nuclear energy resources by coordinating their nuclear research and development programmes and by permitting the free movement of nuclear raw materials, equipment, investment capital, and specialists within the community. Euratom is vested with wide powers, including the right to conclude contracts, obtain raw materials and establish standards to protect workers and the general population against the dangers of radiation.
World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO)
An organisation created to improve safety at every nuclear power plant in the world. It was formed in 1989 following th Chernobyl accident to allow operators to share and exchange experience in relation to safety of operations.
WANO seeks to assist members with offering Peer Review, Operating Experience, Technical Support and Professional Development.
