Report on Sellafield safety

Operators of the Sellafield reprocessing plant need to improve safety relating to the storage of high-level radioactive liquid…

Operators of the Sellafield reprocessing plant need to improve safety relating to the storage of high-level radioactive liquid waste, according to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, writes Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor.

In its report the RPII makes recommendations after getting "unprecedented access" to Sellafield from the plant's operators, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. It says BNFL needs to complete its analysis of the risk from earthquake and had not adequately assessed the consequences of a very severe accident.

The report's authors, Mr Frank Turvey and Mr Christopher Hone, also suggested that BNFL carry out random checks of plant personnel for alcohol or drug abuse.