Health and safety jobs needed in UK nuclear industry
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned the UK nuclear industry that it will block all new reactors unless standards are tightened and 'significant' design features are changed.
The latest report from the UK safety body has advocated that the industry places more emphasis on internal health and safety jobs after it found serious concerns over designs for the new reactors. Its approval is needed before construction can start on the planned nuclear replacements for Britain's ageing coal and atomic plants.
It has criticised the designs of both the French and American reactors planned for construction at 10 sites across England and Wales. The development plans were announced earlier this month and promised to boost the UK power supply as well as stimulating construction recruitment and the civil engineering jobs market.
The HSE said that there were concerns over the French EPR design's structural integrity and the provision for "hazard barriers" in its proposed architectures. It also reported that the American AP1000 reactor had "significant shortfalls" regarding internal hazards.
In response to the report, the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) encouraged the industry and the design companies to create and fill health and safety jobs to expedite the HSE assessment and approval.
CECA head of industry affairs, Alasdair Reisner, said that "If nuclear power is going to play a part in delivering a secure energy future for the UK, it must be safe and that means construction will be to exacting standards. The Health and Safety executive has helpfully highlighted areas of concern, allowing these issues to be rectified before the plans are completed in June 2011".
"As we move towards this date, CECA would encourage the reactor designers to call upon the skills and knowledge of the association's members, to help them overcome any issues in relation to the buildability of the civil engineering aspects of the reactor design".