NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
SELLAFIELD FIRE SAFETY SHORTCOMINGS IDENTIFIED
The Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has identified shortcomings in relation to fire fighting capability at the Sellafield plant. The findings of a report last year are disturbing given that over fifty years ago the Sellafield site then called Windscale was the site of the most infamous pre-Chernobyl nuclear nfires an incident which resulted in serious pollution.
The ONR report identified issues in relation:
staffing levels, the quality and frequency of training and the standard of operational preparedness
The concerns became apparent to ONR Fire Safety Inspectors after they witnessed an exercise at the plant in December 2011
In response to a freedom of information request filed by the Guardian newspaper, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), an arm of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said errors by senior fire officers in a preparedness exercise at Sellafield could have led to delays in responding to the nuclear emergency and a prolonged release of radioactive material off-site.
Related links here:
Four years ago the Celtic League raised concerns with the UK (Nuclear) HMI about fire safety at nuclear plants (see link):
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
11/02/13
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