Sellafield fined following radioactive gas exposure
December 7th 16:57 Health and Safety
The importance of effective facilities management and power stations has been highlighted after Sellafield was fined £75,000 for allowing two contractors to be exposed to radioactive contamination.
It pleaded guilty to contravening health and safety regulations following the incident in July 2007, which saw the pair of workers breathe in dust contaminated with plutonium while drilling a concrete floor at the site.
The owner of the Sellafield Nuclear Licensed Site in Cumbria was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Mark Bassett of the body said the case shows the importance of making sure personnel are protected when "potentially hazardous work" is being carried out.
He added that Sellafield should have "properly assessed" the risks, before conducting appropriate planning and organisation prior to the drilling taking place.
Last month, the HSE published interim assessments of designs for two new nuclear power stations, but stated that full conclusions cannot be reached until the firms responsible for the plans have provided more information.
