SUB-STANDARD HEALTH & SAFETY
Nuclear base workers fear lax approach after 4 hurt in just one day
FOUR workers were hurt in one day as they repaired submarines at Scotland’s nuclear fleet base.
A safety probe has been launched into the separate accidents at Faslane on the Clyde on Wednesday.
Navy chiefs, union bosses and contractors confirmed the incidents.
And one worker contacted the Record to highlight health and safety fears, claiming all the injuries happened in the “Fleeting Section” dealing with naval vessels, including nuclear subs.
The whistleblower claimed that one colleague was injured when equipment – which was stickytaped to the side of a sub – fell off.
He claimed another was hurt when heavy goods fell from a crane.
These details were not confirmed by naval bosses. The worker said: “This is a base dealing with Britain’s nuclear fleet, so health and safety has to be absolutely paramount.
“When you see multiple incidents in one day, that’s a very serious situation. The guys are worried that health and safety isn’t being taken seriously enough. There should be zero incidents at a base like this.”
A spokesman for Babcock, who operate the yard at Faslane, said: “We can confirm that two Babcock employees received injuries during routine lifting operations within the naval base on May 31. Both were taken to hospital as a precaution and both later discharged home.
“Two other minor injuries were reported on site on Wednesday during unrelated activities.
“Babcock takes the health and safety of our workforce extremely seriously and is undertaking full and thorough investigations into these incidents in order that they do not happen in the future.”
Unite regional officer Stephen Deans said the union were aware an investigation was under way and “we will await the outcome”.
A Navy spokesman said: “We are aware of a number of minor safety incidents involving Babcock employees at HMNB Clyde on May 31. The naval base’s health and safety department will investigate these incidents and consider the findings.
“The naval base is committed to learning from experience and continually improving safety.
“All health and safety related incidents are thoroughly investigated and, where necessary, measures put in place to prevent such events from reoccurring.”
Earlier this month, six Navy personnel were taken to hospital after inhaling gas at Faslane.
The incident happened during a routine exercise which triggered the fire suppression system on a ship at the base.