500 ‘safety events’ reported at naval base
MORE than 500 safety events have been recorded at the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent since 2006 including two ‘Category A’ incidents, the MoD has revealed.
Defence Minister Stuart Andrew disclosed the figure in a letter in response to a parliamentary question from Edinburgh SNP MP Deidre Brock.
In total, 505 “events” were recorded over the past 12 years at HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, home to most of the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet.
In the letter he states: “These events may be nearmisses, equipment failures, human error or procedural failings.
“They are raised, however minor they may appear, to encourage a comprehensive, robust reporting culture, undertake learning from experience and to take early corrective action.”
There were two Category A incidents listed from 2006 and 2007.
The letter states that Category A events have “actual or high potential for radioactive release to the environment of quantities in excess of IRR99 notification limits”.
However, the minister said that in “neither event was any radiological contamination evident”.
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “The figures in the defence minister’s letter confirms our fears, revealing a catalogue of accidents in the last three years.”