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INSPECTION REPORT

Licence Holder: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology

Organisation (ANSTO)

Licence Number: F0157

Location inspected: OPAL Reactor at Lucas heights Science

and Technology Centre, Sydney

Date of inspection: 22 March 2013

Report No: R13/04120

This is the record of an inspection conducted under Part 7 of theAustralian Radiation Protection andNuclear Safety Act 1998 (the Act). The purpose of the inspection was to assess compliance with the Act, theAustralian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999(the Regulations) and licence

conditions.

The scope of this inspection was limited to OPALs utilisation operations. It was a follow-up of the

ARPANSA inspection of OPAL Utilisation conducted on 26 April 2012.

The inspection consisted of:

selective examination of documentation including procedures, instructions, shift-logs and shift-rosters,training records

discussions with staff and management examination of the facility and staff undertaking utilisation work status of implementation of recommendations arising from the previous inspectionThe following observations, conclusions and recommendations are based on an analysis of information andevidence obtained during the inspection.

Observations:

1. The training records of the OPAL Production Manager the inspectors examined indicated that hehad undertaken utilisation training. ARPANSA had recommended the Production Managerundertake this training at the previous 26 April 2012 inspection. The Production Manager outlinedthat this training has improved his ability to understand operators work tasks. Inspectors considered

that this training would improve safety by providing practical experience of the demands onworkers that undertake daily tasks which the Production Manager schedules and manages.

2. Inspectors noted that ANSTO had updated the shift log. ANSTO had added extra fields to the shiftlog which allowed the Production Manager to add comments and notes which operators could readand take note of during their shift. Although the shift handover form is not signed through writtensignatures of both incoming and outgoing operators, the staff and management consider this updated

form useful to communicate important information regarding utilisation operations. Inspectors alsoconsider this update to be beneficial to safety allowing both staff and management to communicatesafety information more effectively.

3. ANSTO has recently installed a workstation which operators use to monitor and action utilisationwork tasks. Operators outlined that this workstation allows them to more easily track and monitortheir tasks and operations. Inspectors consider that the installation of this workstation will help to

reduce the risk of errors in the utilisation process.

4. ANSTO management informed inspectors that they have recently established a group of two day-time utilisation operators. This spare resource creates the potential for additional staff training.According to ANSTO, the day-time staff would enable the regular shifts to undertake refreshertraining or review the utilisation procedures and instructions. ANSTO provided training records toinspectors which showed that several utilisation operators have undertaken this training. Inspectorsconsider that this initiative is a good opportunity for utilisation staff to undertake refresher training.

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5. ANSTO are undertaking a project to redesign target holders. ANSTO reported that the redesign willstreamline the production process and be less taxing on operators. ANSTO informed inspectors thatthey are currently assessing options for a new target holder. If this is found to be successful,ANSTO will use the new target holder for all its molybdenum-99 production. Inspectors consider

that this initiative will make it easier for operators to perform their tasks.

Conclusion: At the time of inspection, there was no evidence of non-compliance.

Recommendations: The following improvements to enhance best practice were discussed with licenceholder representatives during the inspection:

1. The OPAL Production Manager should continue to undertake training in utilisation tasks.2. OPAL Utilisation managements recently started initiative to have the spare shift undertake training

should continue to be implemented.

Good Practices: The following good radiation/nuclear safety practices were identified during theinspection:

1. The recently installed workstation operators use to monitor work tasks appears well designed,taking into account ergonomics and human factors principles.