Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PLUTONIUM ALERT AT SELLAFIELD
Safety standards at nuclear plant spark watchdog concern
Decommissioning programme at Sellafield is one of the most challenging in the world SELLAFIELD LTD YESTERDAY
PLUTONIUM facilities at Sellafield nuclear plant do not meet high standards, a watchdog has found.
A number of incidents have been recorded at the site located 105 miles from Northern Ireland, including one where an operator received radioactive contamination to the hand.
The UK’S Office for Nuclear Regulation said: “The Analytical Services and Plutonium Facilities [North] have attracted a significantly enhanced attention level as they do not meet the high standards expected from nuclear facilities.
“This attention level reflects the nature of the hazard, the magnitude of the risks associated with the complex and the critical role these facilities play in support of Sellafield’s and the UK’S hazard and risk reduction programmes.”
A report from Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency last year found a serious accident at the plant would lead to people in this country receiving twice the annual average dose of radiation but would not cause evacuations.
However, there are growing fears of a radioactive leak as firefighters at the site are to go on strike for the first time later this month after pay talks broke down.
The discharge of low-level liquid wastes from Sellafield is the most significant source of artificial radioactivity in the Irish Sea, Ireland’s environmental watchdog has reported.
The main activities at the plant on the Cumbrian coast include reprocessing of spent fuel from nuclear power reactors and storage of nuclear waste. In recent years the Mirror obtained photographic evidence parts of the ageing plant appear to be falling apart with tanks containing highly-radioactive material open to the elements.
In its annual report the ONR said work to improve safety and security has progressed well.
However, in January an operator at the Magnox Reprocessing Plant received a dose of radiation breaching official limits.
It happened during sampling of a highly active material and an ONR investigation is ongoing.
The employee reported to the health physics surgery where contamination was found on one finger of his right hand and removed.
In February in the Thorp complex at Sellafield an operator received a radiation dose above the safe limit.
The incident took place during routine work to clean an alarm probe and involved a puncture wound through the operator’s gloves. A probe is ongoing.
A Sellafield Ltd statement said: “The decommissioning programme at Sellafield is one of the most challenging in the world so it’s no surprise ONR places us so highly on its priority list for regulatory attention.
“We are delivering our strategy and working with our regulators to remove barriers to clean up the UK’S nuclear legacy.”