28 November 2023
A delegation from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) visited the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) in November 2023 following an information sharing agreement that was signed between the two agencies in September.
ARPANSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Gillian Hirth, said that the three-day visit was part of a commitment towards increased regulatory cooperation and collaboration.
‘This visit allowed us to further build on our relationship with ONR to share information on our regulatory experiences and discuss strategies for workforce and nuclear knowledge development,’ Dr Hirth said.
‘These discussions provided a demonstration of the UK’s nuclear regulation in action, providing critical knowledge to support the highest standards of safety in Australia’s changing nuclear landscape.’
ONR’s Director of Regulation, Donald Urquhart, said the visit aimed to bolster ARPANSA’s understanding of how ONR regulates the UK nuclear sector, engages with industry licensees, and where necessary, implements enforcement action to influence proportionate improvements.
‘We were delighted to welcome ARPANSA to Bootle for this valuable opportunity to share learning, ultimately helping to enhance nuclear and radiation safety between our respective nations,’ he said.
‘Following the signing of our information sharing agreement with ARPANSA in September we look forward to continuing our work with the international nuclear community.’
At the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, ARPANSA and ONR signed an Information Exchange Agreement to share information, experience and good practice.
Working with international counterparts to enhance nuclear safety is a key aspect of ARPANSA’s role to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation.
