The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has issued improvement notices to a tenant and a contractor at the nuclear fuel enrichment site near Chester, following two separate incidents investigated by inspectors.
In May, a significant safety lapse occurred at the Tails Management Facility on the site, operated by tenant organisation Urenco ChemPlants. Approximately 18 litres of diluted hydrofluoric acid were inadvertently discharged from a pipe during maintenance work on a gas scrubber. While no workers were harmed, the potential consequences could have been severe. The ONR identified several shortfalls, including inadequate risk assessments and deficiencies in the safe system of work. Though nuclear or radiological safety was not compromised, the ONR mandated improvements to prevent similar incidents. Urenco ChemPlants are required to enhance the planning, organisation, and control of future maintenance activities on the gas scrubber machinery. Ian Phillips, ONR Superintending Inspector, emphasised the importance of stringent safety procedures when handling hazardous materials. He stated, “When working with hazardous materials it is vital that suitable and sufficient safety procedures are in place to effectively manage and reduce risks, and thus to protect workers. On this occasion, adequate controls were not in place, which resulted in workers potentially being exposed to hydrofluoric acid. This improvement notice will require Urenco ChemPlants Ltd to put in place effective risk control measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future.” The organisation must comply with the notice by December 2024.
A separate incident in July led to the ONR issuing an improvement notice to Babcock Critical Services. The inspection uncovered shortfalls in the contractor’s operations, specifically a lack of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for work involving ionising radiation. The absence of such an assessment implies that practicable measures to limit workers’ exposure to ionising radiation may not have been implemented. Though no harm came to workers, public, or the environment, the ONR stressed the need for comprehensive risk assessments in such situations. Phillips reiterated the necessity for thorough risk assessments when dealing with ionising radiation. He noted, “It is crucial to have a comprehensive risk assessment in place when working with ionising radiation, so that potential risks are identified and suitable and sufficient risk control measures are implemented to protect the safety of workers at all times.” Babcock Critical Services must comply with the notice by October 2024.
The ONR’s enforcement actions highlight the critical need for rigorous safety protocols at nuclear sites. Both Urenco ChemPlants and Babcock Critical Services must address these safety deficiencies to ensure future incidents are prevented, thereby safeguarding workers, the public, and the environment.