Sellafield praised following nuclear safety inspection
A national nuclear boss has given a positive report on the performance of Britain's nuclear industry, praising the work of Sellafield Limited, operators of the eponymous site in west Cumbria.
Chief Nuclear Inspector Mark Foy has published his annual performance review, reporting that the nuclear industry has performed well overall with required standards of safety, security and safeguarding being maintained.
Mr Foy of The Office for Nuclear Regulation, praises the industry for "adapting well to the challenges of Covid-19 - implementing pandemic contingency plans to good effect".
Nuclear decommissioning site Sellafield Limited was praised in the report for its delivery of a new training facility to practice the retrieval of radioactive waste from a legacy silo.
Mr Foy said:
He added: "Equally, the industry responded well to the pandemic as part of a controlled and effectively managed response that has ensured the continued safety and security of its activities, including those associated with critical national infrastructure, high-hazard legacy facilities, and the transport of radioactive materials."
Sellafield has welcomed the chief inspector's comments and described them as "pleasing".
Mark Neate, the company's environment, safety and security director, said: "Having a mature and constructive relationship with our regulators is fundamental to our ability to remain safe, learn from our experiences, and adapt to new thinking.
"Sellafield is the UK's most complex nuclear site. Our daily work presents substantial nuclear, environmental, radiological, chemical, and conventional safety and security challenges.
The chief inspector identified three key themes for the nuclear industry as a whole to take forward and improve upon: the importance of managing ageing facilities, conventional health and safety performance and a new theme, "leadership for safety and security culture."
Read more: