Nuclear Plant Taken To Task after Workers Exposed To Radiation
Sellafield Nuclear Plant has been reprimanded and penalized for negligence to safety regulations after workers were exposed to radiation when they were clearing out a room in the company’s
The 2007 incident involved two contract employees who were engaged in clearing out a room where radioactive material was previously stored for monitoring purposes. They were required to remove a section of concrete flooring that had earlier been exposed to some leakage of plutonium. In order to do this, they were drilling into the floor and this raised a significant amount of irradiated dust.
The workers inhaled the dust inadvertently, and they were later immediately evacuated from the room. They were divested of the PVC suits that covered them. The suit of one worker showed significant contamination according to readings in a radiation monitor placed outside. The enclosure was also detected to have high amounts of contamination.
Following this mishap, the Health and Safety Executive took up further investigation into the matter. It was found that though the workers did not suffer exposure higher than the safe levels prescribed by authorities, they were significantly exposed to radioactive contamination.
HSE investigators maintained that proper risk assessment should have been undertaken by the company before such work was commenced. With the inadequate facilities that were in place, it is fortunate that the workers did not sustain serious health problems, said HSE.
The charges against Sellafield Ltd included violation of some sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company pleaded guilty to the charges and it was asked to pay a fine plus costs amounting to £75,000 and £26,100 at Carlisle Crown Court. HSE nuclear safety officials stated that the company was responsible for ensuring that any worker involved in such dangerous jobs should be assured of zero risk of radiation contamination, given that the company is well aware of the hazards of exposure.
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