The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Safety in nuclear industry now world class says Ian Roxburgh

09 July 2008

Dr Ian Roxburgh praised the health and safety record of NDA sites when making the closing remarks at the recent Health and Safety Conference in Nottingham.

“In the three years since the NDA was created the nuclear sector has moved from having a modest performance in terms of health and safety to one in which we are now largely world class. On my recent visits to Capenhurst, Dounreay and Hunterston ‘A’, I have seen what people can achieve not only in terms of safety but also in terms of the environment. You can hold your heads up as you are on a par with anyone in the world. My congratulations to you, you do us proud,” he told the 220 conference delegates.

Ian said health and safety is not something that people should just switch on at the site gates. He acknowledged that in offering praise we also had to consider the fact that a man from Sellafield site was seriously ill in hospital following an accident. “We are doing well but can do better and must strive for zero incidents.”

He said that safety is not related to funding but to people’s behaviour and he cited people driving to work using mobile phones and ignoring double white lines on the road as unacceptable.

“We need to get people to believe in health and safety. If we can’t get all our colleagues to believe our aspiration of having zero incidents is unreal”, he said.

He expressed his pride at the performance of NDA contractors in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents annual health safety awards.

Springfields Fuels Ltd won the Manufacturing industry award and Magnox Electric won the Engineering Construction award. Springfields was also commended in the International Dilmun Environmental Award category.

In addition to the major awards the President’s Award for those who have achieved a minimum of ten consecutive Gold Awards went to:

• Berkley
• Hinkley Point ‘A’
• Sizewell ‘A’

The Gold Medal presented to organisations which have achieved a minimum of five consecutive Gold Awards went to:

• Trawsfynydd
• Calder Hall
• Oldbury
• Bradwell
• Capenhurst
• Chapelcross and
• Dungeness ‘A’

Mike Tynan, Site Director at Springfields said:
“I want to say a huge thank you to the people of Springfields for the fantastic efforts they have put in on safety over the years and without doubt our partnership with Trade Unions, Staff Unions and Safety Representatives has been one of the deciding factors in our success.”

“I would also like to thank the team who put together our submission to RoSPA for their dedication, commitment and perseverance.”