The GMB labor union has urged the government and nuclear regulatory bodies to promptly address safety concerns at Sellafield.
The union has sent letters to the energy minister, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), and the chief executive of Sellafield, urging for increased investment to ensure the safety of the 11,000 workers at the large nuclear waste site in Cumbria.
In the beginning of this month, the Guardian exposed a list of worries regarding the safety of the extensive 6 sq km (2 sq mile) location in north-west England.
According to insiders who have seen risk reports, the site has over 100 safety issues that are of great concern to regulators. These problems involve fire safety, such as non-working alarms in areas with radioactive materials. There have been instances of work being halted due to a shortage of properly trained staff in nuclear safety, and there has been a rise in contamination and radiation protection incidents.
The problems were uncovered in Nuclear Leaks, a year-long investigation by The Guardian that exposed issues related to cyber hacking and a toxic work environment at Sellafield. It was also discovered that the site is experiencing an increasingly severe leak from a large silo containing radioactive waste.
The GMB, an organization that represents a large number of employees in the energy sector, expressed significant worry over the news of leaks and cybersecurity weaknesses at the facility.
According to GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast, members at Sellafield have been expressing worries about a series of issues for a long time. These concerns involve “insufficient training and skills among employees, inadequate safety protocols, and a climate of anxiety and bullying.”
Prendergast stated that GMB has consistently expressed worries about safety and staffing numbers, attributing them primarily to high turnover rates and the age and demographic makeup of the employees.
According to a high-ranking source in the industry, there is a group of longstanding employees at Sellafield who are resistant to change and have earned the nickname “We Bees” – a shortened version of “we be here when you be gone”. Multiple sources have pointed out that the insular community in the area and their dependence on Sellafield for high-paying jobs have hindered efforts for change.
Prendergast sent a letter to Claire Coutinho, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, as well as to Euan Hutton, Sellafield’s chief executive, and David Peattie, the NDA chief. In the letter, he urged them to take immediate action to resolve the issues at hand.
Coutinho recently reached out to Peattie, following the Guardian’s articles, expressing concern about the accusations surrounding cybersecurity, site safety, and workplace culture at Sellafield. He emphasized the seriousness of these issues and the need for immediate action.
After learning that Sellafield was targeted by cyberattacks from organizations associated with China and Russia, the Office for Nuclear Regulation placed the site under “significantly enhanced attention” for cybersecurity. This prompted her involvement.
Peattie reassured Coutinho that public safety remains a top priority and that necessary steps are being taken to improve cyber security and site safety. He also emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards staff bullying and harassment.
According to him, Sellafield has found no proof of a cyber attack or any resulting malware on their systems. Peattie also mentioned that a new leader in cybersecurity will be appointed in January.
A representative from Sellafield stated: “Safety is our primary concern at Sellafield. We take pride in our safety history and continuously work towards enhancing it.”
”
Our CEO, Euan Hutton, has had a strong working relationship with our on-site labor unions, including GMB, during his time in office.
None of the concerns outlined in this letter were brought up during this interaction in the manner described.
It should be emphasized that our independent regulator has verified that past cultural concerns have not resulted in any hazardous practices at Sellafield.
According to the spokesperson, there has been an increase in the number of on-site “safety professionals” in recent years. They disagreed with the statistics mentioned in the GMB’s letter and stated that Sellafield maintains an “open door policy” with its trade unions, including GMB, Prospect, and Unite.
Previously, it was stated that employees have the ability to bring up concerns and speak out when things are not going well.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s representative stated that the secretary in charge of energy security communicated with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and had discussions with their CEO and the regulator. They were assured that there have been no successful cyber-attacks at Sellafield. The secretary has also asked for regular updates on efforts to enhance cyber-security and address concerns about workplace culture.
Source: theguardian.com
