HSE stresses importance of nuclear industry safety standards following Sellafield sentencing

E103:06 16 October 2006

British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited was today fined £500,000 plus costs of over £67,000 after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety law. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the prosecution following the discovery in April 2005 of a large leak of highly radioactive liquid within Sellafield's Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP).

After the hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, Dr. Mike Weightman, HSE's Director of Nuclear Safety and HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, said:

"Our extensive investigation into the events in THORP has shown that British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited fell significantly short of the required standards for a considerable period of time before the leak was discovered. Although we stress that there is no evidence of any harm to workers or the public, the leak being contained within a stainless steel lined, heavily shielded cell, there had been a significant prolonged reduction in attention to the high standards demanded, something we are not prepared to tolerate.

THORP was Sellafield's flagship plant and built to high standards. It must also be operated, maintained and managed to the high standards we insist on, and the public have a right to expect from the nuclear industry.

"For the wider nuclear industry, our message is clear: high standards are demanded of the nuclear industry, this means continued vigilance and close attention to maintaining all the multiple physical and administrative barriers put in place to protect people and society from highly radioactive material.

"It is not acceptable to allow any of these barriers to degrade and weaken, relying on the existence of other barriers to secure continued protection. Industry must continue to embrace high standards of design, construction, operation and maintenance and vigorously strive to maintain them at all times."

Notes to editors

• HSE brought a prosecution against British Nuclear Group Sellafield Ltd (BNGSL) following a detailed investigation by HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate into a leak of radioactive liquor inside a shielded facility at THORP. HSE was notified of the incident on 20 April 2005. THORP reprocesses nuclear fuel from overseas and UK second-generation commercial reactors. The plant has been shut since April 2005.

• HSE alleged that BNGSL breached three conditions attached to the Sellafield site licence granted under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended). In summary these conditions require the licensee: to make, and comply with, written instructions; to ensure safety systems are in good working order; and to ensure radioactive material is contained and, if leaks occur, they are detected and reported. At a hearing before Whitehaven Magistrates Court, Cumbria on 8 June 2006, BNGSL pleaded guilty to the three charges. Sentencing was adjourned to Carlisle Crown Court.

• The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 provides for the licensing and inspection of sites used for operating nuclear reactors; manufacturing, storing and reprocessing nuclear fuel and related activities. No site may be used for operating a nuclear installation without a licence granted by HSE. The form of the site licence is the same for each installation and contains a standard set of 36 conditions, dealing with a variety of safety requirements. Contravention of any condition constitutes an offence under the Act.

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