From the beginning of the nuclear power programme in the United Kingdom, the development of nuclear generating capacity was accompanied by a clear percep­tion of the associated nuclear risks. In particular the CEGB recognised that the many factors involved in assessing the design and operation of a nuclear power reactor were both wide ranging and complex, and as a result decided to set up a completely new department independent of design, construction or production line — management with the following responsibilities:

• To provide independent, dispassionate and objective assessment of the nuclear safety of plant and pro­cesses on the CEGB system where potential hazards might arise, and to help ensure that adequate pro­vision for safety is made in the design, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of nuclear plant. [40] standards of radiological protection. To provide independent scrutiny and surveillance as necessary. In addition, the department acts as a channel of communication through which the technical aspects of undertakings or obligations on nuclear health and safety matters on nuclear licensed sites are ne­gotiated with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the authorising Government Departments.

The department, set up in 1959, was initially entitled The Nuclear Health and Safety Department but, fol­lowing the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974, its responsibilities were broadened to include conven­tional safety and its title was changed to Health and Safety Department.

In 1987, following the reorganisation of the CEGB, a Corporate Health and Safety Department was formed by bringing Regional Medical Advisers, Regional Safe­ty Advisers, Regional Fire Officers, and their respec­tive staff, under a common line management with the existing CEGB Headquarters Health and Safety Department. The Corporate Health and Safety func­tion was also made functionally responsible for Health Physicists and Accredited Radiological Safety Advi­sers assigned to specific locations throughout the CEGB, although such personnel remained under the line management control of the appropriate Divisional Directorate.

The Health and Safety Department is now the cen­tral and independent authority within the CEGB on all aspects of health and safety. It makes full use of expertise within the Health and Safety function else­where within the CEGB and external to it.

The role involves gathering information, formulat­ing policy and setting standards, negotiating safety requirements with the appropriate authorities, provi­ding expert guidance, and monitoring performance. The objective throughout is to provide a robust frame­work within which all levels of line management and each employee can discharge their primary respon­sibilities for health and safety.

The department is headed by a Corporate Director who is directly and immediately responsible to the Chairman of the CEGB on all significant safety mat­ters, particularly in the nuclear field. Whilst the func­tion of the Corporate Director and the department is advisory, with no executive authority, it is necessary for locations to obtain HSD agreement on any matter involving nuclear safety before formal approval is requested from the regulatory authorities, thus pro­viding effective independent control.

The HSD organisation is set out in Fig 4.2 and consists of five branches, each led by a branch head. They are; Nuclear Safety Operations, Nuclear Safety Development, Medical, Industrial Safety, and Health and Safety Strategy Branches. The department’s com­plement is some 186 qualified scientists and engineers who carry out safety assessments on all aspects of

design and operation. Included in this number are the field officers as mentioned above and the nuclear inspectors who are permanently sited at the nuclear power stations and Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories who provide independent, unbiased and informed scrutiny of all activities affecting nuclear safety. The terms of reference of the branches are as follows.