MOD Blunder on Nuclear Report

MOD failure to properly redact sensitive sections of nuclear documents released in response to an FOI request puts national security at risk.  See the reports in the Telegraph and BBC

The Telegraph reported “The MoD was last night examining other documents handled by the same junior official responsible for redacting the nuclear report” this report seems to suggest that management is trying to shift the blame to the most junior member of staff involved.  The report also would seem to suggest that the Americans may be less than pleased.

“ Secret details of how US Navy submarine reactors were maintained”

This incident may be indicative of the impact caused by the loss of staff and experience within the MOD

Incident aboard HMS Astute - Human factors and nuclear safety

The unfortunate incident aboard HMS Astute that lead to the death of an officer and another being seriously injured raises concerns about failures to identify personnel who may be unsuitable for life aboard nuclear submarines. It is notable that that the HSE draws attention to the need to consider carefully human factors in the design of the man machine interface in nuclear activities.

So far as civil nuclear activities are concerned operators can leave the site and when on site have space and access to amenities where as in a submarine operators live, cramped within a machine, 24/7 over extended periods of time.

It would seem that human factors may have played a significant part in this unfortunate incident. Bearing in mind that some submarines as well as having a nuclear reactor have on board nuclear weapons, it is clear that lessons must be learnt to ensure such incidents do not occur again, which could lead to altogether more serious outcomes.

Link to HSE information on human factors

Link to Sunday Herald article

Quote used in article
"Fred Dawson, a former senior safety official with the MoD, said that the tragic events on Astute “may reflect pressure either domestic, or at work, on crew manning submarines”.
He added: “My concern is about the failure of management to pick up on people like this, and that such people are key to the safety of nuclear systems.”

Reference

Scott D Sagan, The Limits of Safety, organisations, accidents and nuclear weapons; Princeton University Press. ISBN-10: 0691021015 ISBN-13: 978-069102101

New UK nuclear industry regulator launched which includes defence nuclear activities

New UK nuclear industry regulator Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) launched

"ONR has been established today as an agency of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), pending planned legislation to establish it as a statutory body. The ONR will bring together the relevant nuclear regulatory functions of HSE (through its Nuclear Directorate) and the Department for Transport.

The organisation will ensure that those authorised to carry out nuclear activities, in both the civil and defence sectors, do so in a safe way – from power stations and radioactive waste to transport of materials and submarines. ONR staff will also regulate the security of civilian nuclear installations."

The Ministry of Defence is to be commended in moving away from its own system of internal regulation to civil regulation with all the benefits that brings, particularly of transparency and independence, the authorisation of defence related nuclear activities such as nuclear submarines, their berths the ship lift at Faslane, RNAD Coulport, nuclear weapon transportation and the Vulcan reactor at Dounreay etc.

Link to the ONR statement

Review of nuclear safety in light of the situation in Japan

From the HSE web site

Mike Weightman on events in Japan

"Mike Weightman^[1], chief nuclear inspector and head (director) of the Health and Safety Executive’s Nuclear Directorate^[2], the UK’s independent nuclear safety and security regulator, said:

“Since Friday, the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Directorate has been monitoring events in Japan closely. We have provided specialist technical advice to the UK Government and ensured there are no immediate implications for the safety of the UK nuclear facilities. This is a difficult time for Japan and we are ready to provide support as necessary. We must establish the facts, which are emerging and not yet fully known. The nuclear regulatory standards in the UK ensure our nuclear power reactors are robust against all the external hazards that may be reasonably foreseen in the UK and I agree with advice that seismic and tsunami events of such extreme magnitude as seen in Japan are not foreseeable for the UK. However, it is important that we consider the implications and learn any lessons to ensure we continue to secure the protection of people and society.

Chris Huhne ^[3], Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, has asked me to provide a report ^[4]on the implications of the unprecedented events in Japan and the lessons to be learned for the UK nuclear industry. There will be an interim report by mid May 2011 and a final report within six months. The reports will be put in the public domain and will be comprehensive, wide in scope and based on the best technical advice, consulting nationally and internationally with colleagues and organisations who, like us, have the safety and security of people and society uppermost in our minds.""

It will be interesting to see if the review extends to defence nuclear activities and if it does will the reports be made public.