The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) can confirm that Sellafield Ltd has now complied with an Improvement Notice served after a worker sustained serious injuries to his back following a fall from a scaffolding ladder.
The incident occurred on 12 October 2021 while work was being carried out to repair a leaking pipe in a low active cell at the Magnox Reprocessing Facility.
Since the Improvement Notice was served, Sellafield Ltd has reviewed its risk assessment arrangements to ensure those arrangements are suitable and sufficient for working in cells in the Magnox Reprocessing Facility.
The review identified potential enhancements to site procedures and training, and potential improvements to the application of certain practices within the Magnox Reprocessing Facility.
An ONR spokesperson said: “Since the Improvement Notice was served, ONR has been pleased with the action taken by Sellafield Ltd to review their risk assessment arrangements, and to identify potential improvements to prevent any similar occurrences in future.
“The safety of workers and the public is ONR’s overriding priority, and we will have no hesitation in taking action to bring about improvements when shortfalls are identified.”
This was a conventional health and safety incident and not a nuclear related safety incident.
ONR’s investigation into the incident remains ongoing.