UK nuclear workers told to stay home as radioactivity rises

[Magda Hassan]

UK nuclear workers told to stay home as radioactivity rises

Published time: January 31, 2014 08:34
Edited time: January 31, 2014 09:21 Get short URL

A view of the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site near Seascale in Cumbria, England (Reuters / David Moir)



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Britain's Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site has told non-essential workers to stay home Friday due to the detection of abnormally high levels of radiation.
The radiation spike was detected by one of the monitors at the north end of the partially decommissioned site.
Sellafield management have sought to reassure the public that radiation levels are not high enough to warrant any emergency. Apart from the reduced staffing levels, the site is operating normally, the company said.
"In response to an operational condition on the Sellafield site a conservative and prudent decision has been taken, to operate the site at reduced manning levels, commensurate with safe operations," the company said in a statement.
UK Energy Ministry said it is in contact with Sellafield and sees no reason to believe that the incident is more serious than what the company says it is.
Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria, northwest England, is currently undergoing decommission.
A Cold War legacy, Sellafield holds dozens of tons of plutonium waste from Britain's nuclear weapons program. One of its buildings is dubbed "the most hazardous industrial building in western Europe."
The site attracts anti-nuclear campaigners, partially due to a number of radiation leaks the site has experienced over the decades.
Sellafield closure was announced in June 2012, following concerns over environmental damage and terrorist threats. It has cost British taxpayers at least £67.5 billion ($106 billion).
http://rt.com/news/sellafield-radioactiv...clear-460/