Latest news with #NuclearRestorationServices
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nuclear site told to improve safety after worker hurt
Dounreay's operators have been told to improve safety at the site after a piece of equipment toppled over and injured a worker. The accident happened at the nuclear power complex, near Thurso in Caithness, in February. Industry watchdog the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said the worker escaped with minor injuries, but added that it considered the incident as "significant" and "preventable". ONR has issued Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) with an improvement notice. NRS said it took the protection of people and the environment "very seriously". More stories from the Highlands and Islands News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds ONR said the a radiological contamination monitor, weighing about two tonnes, toppled over while it was being moved. Superintending inspector Tom Eagleton said: "This was a preventable incident that could have had serious consequences for those nearby. "The improvement notice requires the Dounreay site to implement measures that will reduce the risk of similar occurrences in the future. "Specifically, they must identify all operations involving the movement of heavy equipment and ensure comprehensive risk assessments and appropriate control measures are implemented before the work starts." NRS has until 25 July to comply with the notice. A spokesperson for NRS said: "We take the protection of people and the environment from harm very seriously. "We are taking action to strengthen our practices and management in this area, and will comply with the requirements of the notice received in April, having reported the incident to ONR and carried out an investigation." Dounreay was opened 70 years ago as an experimental nuclear power site and is now being decommissioned and the site shut down. Last year, ONR raised safety concerns about the state of some areas of the complex. It found corroded steelwork in a building being used to store drums of radioactive sodium, and leaks from low-level radioactive waste pits. NRS said it was carrying out urgent repairs and had an action plan to deal with other issues. These included ONR's warnings about old and degraded electric equipment and the site's stockpile of chemicals being over its set limit. ONR
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dounreay told to improve safety after worker hurt
Dounreay's operators have been told to improve safety at the site after a piece of equipment toppled over and injured a accident happened at the nuclear power complex, near Thurso in Caithness, in watchdog the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said the worker escaped with minor injuries, but added that it considered the incident as "significant" and "preventable".ONR has issued Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) with an improvement notice. NRS said it took the protection of people and the environment "very seriously". ONR said the a radiological contamination monitor, weighing about two tonnes, toppled over while it was being inspector Tom Eagleton said: "This was a preventable incident that could have had serious consequences for those nearby."The improvement notice requires the Dounreay site to implement measures that will reduce the risk of similar occurrences in the future."Specifically, they must identify all operations involving the movement of heavy equipment and ensure comprehensive risk assessments and appropriate control measures are implemented before the work starts."NRS has until 25 July to comply with the notice.A spokesperson for NRS said: "We take the protection of people and the environment from harm very seriously. "We are taking action to strengthen our practices and management in this area, and will comply with the requirements of the notice received in April, having reported the incident to ONR and carried out an investigation." Corroded steelwork Dounreay was opened 70 years ago as an experimental nuclear power site and is now being decommissioned and the site shut year, ONR raised safety concerns about the state of some areas of the found corroded steelwork in a building being used to store drums of radioactive sodium, and leaks from low-level radioactive waste said it was carrying out urgent repairs and had an action plan to deal with other included ONR's warnings about old and degraded electric equipment and the site's stockpile of chemicals being over its set limit.
The Independent
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Hunterston B site declared nuclear-free as all spent fuel removed
All spent nuclear fuel has been removed from the site of the former Hunterston B power station, leading to it being declared nuclear-free. The site in North Ayrshire provided power for nearly 46 years before it was shut down in 2022. Over the past three years engineers have removed 4,880 elements of spent fuel from Hunterston B, packaging them into large flasks before transport to Sellafield in Cumbria for long-term storage. Owners say the nuclear power plant saved 172 million tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere compared to gas-fired power during its time in operation. The focus is now on preparing the site for transfer from current operators EDF to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) for further decommissioning. There is currently one nuclear power station active in Scotland, at Torness in East Lothian, which is due to close in 2030. Hunterston B station director Andy Dalling said: 'Defueling the station on time and on budget has been down to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved, and we are proud to have been able to deliver such an exceptional performance. 'We are now fully focused on getting the station ready to transfer from EDF to NRS for decommissioning in around a year's time. 'Deconstruction of the site will take place over the coming years, with most of the people working here today staying at the site to carry out that job.' Hunterston B is the first in the UK's fleet of seven advanced gas-cooled reactors to be completely defueled. UK energy security minister Lord Hunt said: 'Hunterston B produced the equivalent of enough clean power for all of Scotland's homes for over 30 years while supporting thousands of jobs – that's why we are backing new nuclear as part of our Plan for Change to get Britain building and become a clean energy superpower. 'Quick and effective decommissioning of old nuclear sites is vital for a successful nuclear industry, and today's milestone demonstrates the UK's leadership in this field.' The SNP has a longstanding opposition to new nuclear power being constructed in Scotland but other parties, including Labour and the Conservatives, have called for it to pave the way for new technology such as small modular reactors.
STV News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Hunterston B site declared nuclear-free as all spent fuel removed
All spent nuclear fuel has been removed from the site of the former Hunterston B power station, leading to it being declared nuclear-free. The site in North Ayrshire provided power for nearly 46 years before it was shut down in 2022. Over the past three years engineers have removed 4,880 elements of spent fuel from Hunterston B, packaging them into large flasks before transport to Sellafield in Cumbria for long-term storage. Owners say the nuclear power plant saved 172 million tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere compared to gas-fired power during its time in operation. The focus is now on preparing the site for transfer from the current operators, EDF, to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) for further decommissioning. There is currently one nuclear power station active in Scotland, at Torness in East Lothian, which is due to close in 2030. Hunterston B station director Andy Dalling said: 'Defueling the station on time and on budget has been down to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved, and we are proud to have been able to deliver such an exceptional performance. 'We are now fully focused on getting the station ready to transfer from EDF to NRS for decommissioning in around a year's time. 'Deconstruction of the site will take place over the coming years, with most of the people working here today staying at the site to carry out that job.' Hunterston B is the first in the UK's fleet of seven advanced gas-cooled reactors to be completely defueled. UK energy security minister Lord Hunt said: 'Hunterston B produced the equivalent of enough clean power for all of Scotland's homes for over 30 years while supporting thousands of jobs – that's why we are backing new nuclear as part of our Plan for Change to get Britain building and become a clean energy superpower. 'Quick and effective decommissioning of old nuclear sites is vital for a successful nuclear industry, and today's milestone demonstrates the UK's leadership in this field.' The SNP has a longstanding opposition to new nuclear power being constructed in Scotland but other parties, including Labour and the Conservatives, have called for it to pave the way for new technology such as small modular reactors. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
