The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

24 March 2010

 

The latest decommissioning milestone for Calder Hall has been achieved with the removal of 2300 tonnes of asbestos cladding. The five year project to strip asbestos cladding from the heat exchangers, turbine halls and associated plant was completed this work. It was the culmination of one million man hours of work. Alongside a similar project at Chapelcross, the asbestos strip is reckoned to be the largest in Europe.

Ian Hudson, the NDA's Programme Director for Sellafield Site Facing Team said:

"This is an excellent achievement for the Calder Hall team. The asbestos removal is a major step forward in the overall decommissioning programme and the success of this project demonstrates how hazards can be effectively reduced through well managed, safe operations." 

Since Calder Hall ceased electricity production in 2003, the asbestos was no longer kept at a constant temperature and its stability couldn't be guaranteed. Therefore, a method of safely removing the asbestos in line with strict regulations was piloted and a contractor engaged. Estimated to cost £27.58m, the project's actual end cost was £26.25m, a saving of some £1.33m.

Stuart MacVean, Spent Fuel Management Director, Sellafield Ltd added: "We are working very hard to accelerate the clean-up and remediation work at Sellafield and the fact that this project has been successfully completed on time and within budget demonstrates our total commitment to the job. The £1m saving is exactly the type of efficiency we are looking to replicate in other projects."

Not only did the project involve working with a known carcinogen, but much of the work was also carried out at height. Scaffold towers over 36m tall had to be built around the sixteen heat exchangers on the outside of the reactors. These formed the structure for asbestos tents which prevented the release of asbestos and ensured ventilation for the workers. Around 100 individuals worked in arduous and confined conditions. At no time were any workers exposed to asbestos because of safe working practices and strict adherence to regulations.