NEW BUILD | SPECIAL REPORT


phase. The regulator said, “arrangements and plans for its [NNBGenCo’s] organisational development including project enablers are yet to be stress tested”. It is being sure of the new alliance and NNBGenCo’s


‘capability and capacity’ that is ONR’s main aim at this hold point. It wants to have confidence in NNB GenCo to control and oversee the work, so it assessed organisational capability, along with input from the teams overseeing the design and safety case, security and safeguards, site inspection and conventional health and safety.


Keeping tabs on progress ONR had previously raised concerns over NNBGenCo’s nuclear safety culture and organisational learning, especially after a key member of personnel had left the project. At the ‘hold point’ it had largely closed off those concerns, although it said, “there are still areas relating to NNB GenCo’s nuclear safety culture and organisational learning where further ONR monitoring should be implemented as the project moves into its next phase.” Similarly, although the ONR was satisfied with MEHA’s


capability and readiness for the start of bulk MEH installation, the inspector concluded that “the adequate supply, training, supervision, and oversight of its workforce throughout the installation period will be a major challenge”, both for the Alliance and for NNB GenCo. The ONR inspectors had previously had concerns over manufacturing, at the ‘hold point’ its views were “generally positive”. It highlighted wider manufacturing issues were noted “which could challenge whether all the equipment delivered to site will be fit for purpose”, but decided not to delay the start of work because MEH activities in the first half-year “are largely limited to the installation of pipe supports, cable trays and HVAC ducting,” allowing for more time to improve confidence in the manufacturing process. Similarly in the electrical installation, “there will need to be increased ONR focus on cable management and


installation practices to ensure that these activities are carried out competently” but that was not a reason to delay the step up.


Although MEHA arrangements were in place for limited work up to now, they are not fully developed for the next phase, ONR said. It expects NNB GenCo “to implement enhanced governance for the first bulk MEH activities, and to take steps to appropriately evolve its processes” The MEH phase will bring thousands of new workers


onto the site but civil construction work will continue well into the MEH installation period. The ONR highlighted that MEH will involve new hazards “associated with multi-trade activities”, such welding and other hot work in restricted and confined spaces, or using portable radiographic sources for in-situ weld checking. The team says that so far NNB GenCo and the Alliance


have implemented appropriate arrangements. But the Alliance will require further development as the scale of activities increases, while NNB GenCo must ensure clarity in the responsibilities for maintenance activities for civil structures once they have been handed over to the MEHA. After assessing relatively small-scale MEH installation in the non-nuclear island (which had been delayed) with a small number of workers, the report considered the health and safety management and fire safety will need to evolve as the project grows. It says that the scalability of the arrangements is yet to be tested. ONR will keep it under review. The regulator had found shortfalls in NNB GenCo’s


monitoring arrangements, both on health and safety and fire safety audits. Overall it was clear from the report that ONR still has open questions over whether NNBGenCo and its new Alliance partners can step up fast enough to develop the full capability and capacity needed to deliver the next phase on time. In this case, the ‘stress test’ of the organisation will be happening in real time and the organisation has to pass it. ■


MEH PROGRAMME SCOPE INSTALLING:


380KM PIPEWORK


6325KM 3000KM 218 43


CABLES (IEG) CABLES (IED) LV SWITCHBOARDS HV SWITCHBOARDS 200 PUMPS VALVES20,000 86 FILTERS


136 42


120 TRANSFORMERS HEAT EXCHANGERS TANKS


51,700 404KM 47,LIGHTS000


SUPPORTS CONTAINMENT 75 BUILDINGS


2,000 4,000


ROOMS ERECTION AREAS


IN MORE THAN:


Left: Hinkely Point C construction site pictured in November Photo credit: EDF Energy


www.neimagazine.com | April 2022 | 15


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