1 Introduction

The British civil nuclear power programme was de­veloped directly from the nuclear weapons programme and the associated radiological risks were always clear­ly recognised. As a result, strict government controls have been placed upon the nuclear industry to ensure that the dangers from ionising radiation to both the general public and to workers in the nuclear installa­tions are reduced to a minimum. Such controls are embodied in various Acts of Parliament and have resulted in safety standards which are far more de­manding than for any other modern industry.

The CEGB as a major nuclear licensee has been governed by such regulatory control since the begin­ning of its nuclear power programme, but has also acted to ensure that its safety standards are main­tained as high as reasonably achievable. Taking into account experience gained from the design, construc­tion and operation of large power reactors, an im­portant part of the CEGB’s nuclear safety policy (and that of its nuclear successor, Nuclear Electric pic) is the need for constant vigilance and understanding of changing circumstances which can affect the safety _ of nuclear generation. In this respect, the safety as­sessment by functional teams at all stages in the de­sign, manufacture, construction and operational phases plays a most important part, with the station man­ager having the delegated authority for the operational safety of his plant and compliance with regulatory requirements. The safety of decommissioning is also becoming increasingly important as the earlier nuclear stations begin to reach the end of their working lives.

In order to provide independent consideration and specialist advice to all levels of management on the nuclear health and safety aspects of the CEGB’s bu­siness, the Health and Safety Department (originally the Nuclear Health and Safety Department) was set up at the start of the civil nuclear programme to provide independent, dispassionate, and objective as­sessment of nuclear safety, and to act as the focal point for discussion and agreement with the regulatory authorities.

From the beginning of its nuclear power programme, the paramount objective of the CEGB has been the attainment of high standards of nuclear safety and

the protection of the public and personnel from harm­ful exposure to radiation due to its nuclear operations. This chapter describes the regulatory controls which govern nuclear licensed sites in the UK. the CEGB’s fundamental safety philosophy, its methods of safety assessment and management, and the way in which it complies with the nuclear regulatory requirements.