The Office for Nuclear Regulation has served an improvement notice on Sellafield Ltd following a shunting incident on the rail system at the Cumbria site.
The enforcement action was taken after a railway wagon that hadn't been properly secured rolled approximately 60 metres along the track before colliding with a stationary wagon.
The incident occurred during shunting activities when several other wagons were being moved on the same stretch of track.
While no workers were harmed in the incident in November 2024, it had the potential to have had serious consequences for those involved in the shunting operations.
The impact left both wagons with minor damage, but neither was derailed. The two nuclear waste containers were unaffected due to their robust construction, and there was no radiation risk to workers or members of the public.
Ian Bramwell, ONR’s Head of Regulation for Sellafield Operations, said: “This improvement notice will require Sellafield Ltd to put in place the appropriate health and safety arrangements to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“This will include improving how Sellafield plan, organise, monitor and review the measures in place to protect personnel directly and indirectly involved in rail activities on the site.”
Sellafield Ltd has until 13 June 2025 to comply with the notice. ONR will also conduct further inspections in March and April to review progress.
This notice has been served under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 5(1).