The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) can confirm that Sellafield Limited has complied with the requirements of an improvement notice served in July 2024.
The notice was served after nickel nitrate was found outside of a glovebox area in one of the site’s facilities.
Used in the treatment of effluent, nickel nitrate is not radioactive, but it is a hazardous substance and could harm workers if exposed to it.
Sellafield Limited has now completed a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with the use of nickel nitrate and we are content that the requirements of the notice have been met.
A second improvement notice requiring Sellafield Limited to either prevent or adequately control exposure of workers to nickel nitrate remains outstanding. Sellafield have until the end of March 2025 to comply with this notice.
Strict controls will remain in place in the facility, monitored by an occupational hygienist, until full compliance with the second notice is achieved.
Both notices were served under The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended).