Engineering news
Radiation fears: Sellafield is operating normally but with reduced manning levels
The Sellafield nuclear site is being operated at “reduced manning levels” following “the detection of elevated levels of radioactivity”.
Operator Sellafield Ltd said: “As a result of a conservative and prudent decision, the Sellafield site is operating normally but with reduced manning levels today.
“This follows the detection of elevated levels of radioactivity at one of the on-site radiation monitors at the north end of the site.
“Essential workers only are being asked to report for work.
Prospect, the union for 5,000 nuclear specialists at the Sellafield reprocessing plant in Cumbria, says the elevated radiation readings reported are within acceptable limits and are not a danger to human health or to the plant.
Prospect national secretary Gill Wood Said: "Higher than normal radiation readings have been detected at one monitor at a perimeter fence. As a precaution, non-essential staff have been advised to stay at home today while the relevant specialist team investigates.
"The company's decision to partially close some areas at the site is a pre-cautionary and measured decision and a safety measure that is recognised worldwide."
Sellafield claimed that while levels of radioactivity detected were above naturally occurring radiation, they were “well below” that which would call for any actions to be taken by the workforce on or off the site.
It said the site is at “normal status”. “Employees and operational plants are continuing to operate as investigations continue. All our facilities have positively confirmed there are no abnormal conditions and are operating normally.”
One worker said that only safety and essential staff were in work today. He said other employees had been told not to turn up for work, but had not been given any details of what had happened at Sellafield. He estimated that thousands of workers were affected.
The worker said an air sampler on a perimeter fence had detected a problem, which led to staff being told to stay away.
It is understood nothing has been detected inside the plant.
There was speculation that safety staff were checking to see if there was a malfunction in the air sampler.