Improvement notice served over storage of hazardous materials at Dounreay
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An improvement notice has been served over shortfalls in arrangements for storing alkali metals at Dounreay.
Buildings used to store these metals, predominantly sodium, were leaking in rainwater – with pools observed where the containers were being kept.
The notice was served by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) on Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), formerly Magnox Ltd.
ONR inspectors judged that the prolonged period of exposure to moist and damp conditions was resulting in degradation of the barriers for safe storage of the chemicals.
Although no-one was harmed as a result of these shortfalls, and there were no radiological consequences, ONR concluded that there was potential for serious personal injury if workers had been exposed to the hazardous materials.
Ian Phillips, ONR’s head of safety regulation for decommissioning, fuel and waste sites, said: “All nuclear site licensees have a legal requirement to ensure that hazardous materials are stored in suitable conditions.
“The storage arrangements for these materials were inadequate and fell below legal compliance and the high standards that we expect to see.
“We will be closely monitoring the Dounreay site’s response to this notice to ensure they take the required steps to improve their existing arrangements.”
NRS is required to provide details to ONR by the start of next month on the actions it intends to take, with full compliance sought by June 2025.
A Dounreay spokeswoman said: “The site remains safe and we have ensured there is no risk to staff or wider public. We have already undertaken work, alongside the regulator, to review existing plans and arrangements and we continue to make improvements to address the issues ONR has identified.
“The integrity of the sodium storage vessels has not been compromised and there is no immediate increase in hazard. We will move the sodium to a more suitable facility and in the interim plans are in place to carry out the necessary remedial works needed on the current facilities.
“Dounreay takes the safety of its workforce and community seriously and will continue to work with the regulator on these issues.”
Following the joining of Dounreay with Magnox last April, the company that used to be Magnox Ltd changed its branding and since October 31 has been known as Nuclear Restoration Services. The Dounreay site is a division of NRS.
Dounreay was the UK’s centre of fast reactor research and development from 1955 until 1994 and is now Scotland’s largest nuclear clean-up and decommissioning project.
