MOD Stops Live Nuclear Work at AWE Due to NII Preasure Over Safety Risks

23rd April 2008
Nuclear Information Service
 

The MOD has stopped live nuclear work being carried out at the assembly/disassembly plant at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Burghfield, due to pressure from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate(NII), until safety standards are improved.

The October to December 2007 NII Quarterly report on AWE finds some improvements in safety at the Aldermaston and nearby Burghfield site, but some serious problems remain.The NII is not satisfied that the risk of an accident is 'As Low As Reasonably Practicable' (ALARP) in a quarter of the inspection targets, including the aging 'gravel gertie' dis/assembly facilities where Fissile and High Explosive components are combined in Trident warheads.

Following a damning report listing 1000 safety shortfalls at AWE in 2006/7, NII set a deadline of September 27th 2007 for improvements to be completed. Yet serious faults with the structure of the dis/assembly buildings, warhead lifting cranes and other faults remain outstanding. In its September Periodic Review of Safety Process (PRS), the NII gave an interim decision requiring AWE to apply to NII for a new safety licence each time warhead handling operations were carried out in these facilities. But by December 31st, NII reports a final restriction that the warhead work must stop.

"Subsequently, progress on remediation work is being monitored, in particular those project shortfalls not completed by the PRS decision date. However, AWE has agreed that no live nuclear work will be carried out until the necessary ALARP fixes are in place."

More on the NIS site
NII report

 
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