Dounreay News - Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd

April 2014
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News
Erin
Best in Scotland
More on page 5
In this issue
Looking back on a
busy year
Pages 2 & 3
PFR: Shutdown
remembered
4 page pullout
Staff help out at
Science Festival
Page 17
DFRAS say good
bye to assessor
Page 18
2
Dounreay News
Feature
Dounreay News looks back over the last year and asks – how did we do?
All the MTR raffinate has now
been cemented into drums. 1
using bio fuels.
The new supercompactor for
WRACS arrives onsite and is
installed – the container that held
the previous supercompactor
was used as the first bulk waste
disposal. 5
The first camera footage of the
interior of the DFR reactor was
taken, showing the remaining
breeder. 2
NDA announced its intention to
remove the exotic fuels from site
following a consultation.
The decommissioning of the
D1251 complex at DMTR was
completed. 6
Three lead baths were removed
from DFR – weighing between
21te and 28te each, they were
lifted out using a cradle purposebuilt by Gows Lybster. 3
A cover building was constructed
over the D1211 compound so that
decommissioning of the tanks
can begin. 7
D3100 construction and inactive
commissioning completed. 8
Two English Electric 40-tonne
generators used to provide
emergency power at PFR were
removed and sold for re-use to a
company for power generation
1
4
The PFR centre guide tube was
removed from the reactor,
8
demonstrating that it is possible to
remove large items intact.
Dounreay staff and STEM
ambassadors helped out at a jobs
fair at ETEC. 11
Shaft & Silo project gets planning
green light – to build the facilities
to retrieve, wash and re-package
the ILW in the shaft and silo.
Levels of contract spend with
small and medium-size
companies increased from 17%
to 24% over the year, in line with
NDA requirements.
Breeder offsite transports
continue.
BNS staff were TUPE transferred
in January.
Trials of the method selected to
remove the DFR steel pond liner
took place in t3uk at Janetstown. 9
JCL staff joined DSRL at the end
of March.
Construction of the new CNC
firing rang began, which will
enable to firearms officers to train
locally. 10
Safety statistics remain on the
high side – they have levelled off
but we need to do better.
The two caves and 12 cells in
D1206 have been characterised.
The SHE Awards winners were
WRACS, D1211 and D1206
project teams. 12
12
2
6
4
Send your
stories to
the editor at:
sue.thompson@dounreay.com
April 2014
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News
Feature
11
12
9
5
3
11
3
10
12
7
April 2014
www.dounreay.com
4
Dounreay News
Feature
Commitment to safety
recognised at Dounreay
DSRL is one of 46 organisations worldwide to receive an award “with distinction” – the
highest rating
The British Safety Council has
announced the winners of its
International Safety Awards for
2014, given to organisations in
recognition of their proven
commitment to workplace health
and safety.
The International Safety Awards
scheme, now in its 56th year, is
open to UK and international
organisations of all sizes across all
industries and seeks to promote
high standards of health and safety
management practice in order to
prevent workplace injury and ill
health.
Award winning companies have
demonstrated to the judges their
commitment and determination to
prevent workplace injuries and
work-related ill health.
The winning organisations span all
sectors from the United Kingdom,
Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the
West Indies.
This long-established award has
this year been won by over 500
organisations.
DSRL Assurance Director Alan
Scullion said that the health and
safety of the workforce was nonnegotiable.
“We are determined to ensure that
everyone goes home safely at the
end of the day,” he said.
“Winning an award from the British
Safety Council is a huge
encouragement to us to continue
rooting out practices and
behaviours that put the safety of
people and the environment at risk.”
“All of those working at Dounreay
have made this award possible
which recognises their dedication
and commitment in preventing
injury and ill health in the workplace.
It was also apparent that applicants
recognise that getting health and
safety right is a business enabler.
Alex Botha, Chief Executive of the
British Safety Council,
congratulated DSRL on its success:
“On behalf of the Trustees and staff
of the British Safety Council we
warmly congratulate DSRL and its
employees on gaining an
International Safety Award with
distinction.
“The success criteria for our
International Safety Awards is
challenging and that rightly reflects
the importance of ensuring the risks
of injury and ill health in the
workplace are properly controlled.
Awards have an important part to
play in driving improvements in
health and safety management year
on year.”
DSRL representatives will receive
the award on behalf of the company
at the International Safety Awards
Gala Dinner to take place at
Grosvenor House in London on
April 25.
Treasure Hunt coming soon
As part of the new Safety Challenge on spatial awareness, we will be running a series of
treasure hunts for the next three months, designed to hone awareness of your surroundings.
Every Project Director will have a set
of 12 Safer by the Dozen badges
which they will hide around their
area.
Every month the Safer by the Dozen
badge will become smaller, so it
should become more of a challenge
to spot it.
If you find one, please return it to
Communications with a post it note
giving your details and where you
found it.
The first treasure hunt starts in April,
and will be communicated through
the weekly briefing and broadcast
messages.
Everyone who finds one of these
badges will receive an attractive
enamel pin badge as a prize.
Follow
standards and
procedures
Be
responsible
for safety
Be
responsible
for safety
Report
unsafe acts
You have lots of chances every
month to find a badge and receive a
prize.
April 2014
Apply
Second
Nature
Follow
standards and
procedures
Follow
standards and
procedures
Communicate
openly and
honestly
Apply
START
BY THE
DOZEN
Stop
and seek
advice
Ensure
work is
authorised
Work
within my
competencies
SAFER
Apply
a questioning
behaviour
Be
responsible
for safety
Communicate
openly and
honestly
Apply
Second
Nature
Stop
and seek
advice
Communicate
openly and
honestly
Ensure
work is
authorised
Apply
START
Work
within my
competencies
Work
within my
competencies
Intervene
Report
unsafe acts
Apply
Second
Nature
Intervene
Willingly
accept
intervention
from others
Report
unsafe acts
Willingly
accept
intervention
from others
Apply
START
Stop
and seek
advice
Ensure
work is
authorised
Intervene
Willingly
accept
intervention
from others
Be
responsible
for safety
Apply
a questioning
behaviour
Apply
START
Apply
Second
Nature
Apply
a questioning
behaviour
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News
News round-up
5
Dounreay apprentice is
voted Scotland's best
Dounreay's Erin Thomson won Scottish Nuclear Apprentice of the Year at a night of
glitz and glamour in Manchester in March.
At the annual National Skills Academy
for Nuclear awards ceremony Erin
was presented with the coveted
trophy for 2014, beating off stiff
competition from Torness and
Hunterston.
Erin was the first female engineering
craft apprentice appointed at
Dounreay for over ten years and has
gone on to shine as the first ever
Dounreay winner of a Skills Academy
award.
Erin has completed an Instrument
Craft Apprenticeship, and currently
works as part of the site's instrument
decommissioning maintenance team
carrying out maintenance and project
work across the site.
Erin is a keen STEM Ambassador who
takes a lead on sessions with children
in local schools working towards their
CREST Star Awards. She has recently
commenced a degree course at
North Highland College in Thurso and
hopes to move on to an engineering
role in the future.
Apprentice training manager Jim
Swan, said: “I am delighted that Erin's
self-motivation and ability has been
recognised. Her drive and
commitment makes her stand out
from the crowd and she is a very good
example of where the Modern
Apprenticeship Scheme can take a
young person.”
Describing her award, Erin explained:
Erin was part of the 2009 apprentice intake
“I am delighted to have won this
award, I never imagined an
apprenticeship could bring this sort of
recognition. I think it highlights the
efforts by everyone involved in
training apprentices at Dounreay,
from the apprentice training team
right down to the skilled tradespeople
who see apprentices through their
four years and SVQ's. I am especially
grateful for the opportunity to
continue my studies post
apprenticeship and hope to continue
to progress as a tradesperson.”
At the apprentice indenture ceremony
last year, where Erin was awarded the
Directors Trophy for Best Overall
Apprentice, Dounreay's managing
director, Mark Rouse, encouraged
the newly-qualified youngsters to use
their “top drawer” skills to get involved
with the work left at Dounreay.
“There is ten years of guaranteed
work at Dounreay that you can take
real pride in being a part of,” he said.
“We remain committed to the
apprenticeship scheme because it is
the life blood of the company and
what Erin has achieved is a credit to
her, she is a very worthy winner and
everyone at Dounreay is extremely
proud of her, as am I.”
The latest apprentices to be taken on
by Dounreay will start their first year of
training at the North Highland College
in September.
Erin receiving the Director’s Trophy from Mark Rouse
Erin with DSRL representatives at the award ceremony
April 2014
www.dounreay.com
6
Dounreay News
News round-up
First phase of
vaults complete
Construction of the phase one vaults at the new Low Level Waste disposal facilities is
complete.
June 2012: excavating the vaults
Phase one consists of two shallow
engineered vaults which will
accommodate the minimum
volume of predicted waste arising
from the decommissioning of the
site.
Graham Construction, the principal
contractor for phase one, has now
completed inactive commissioning
and are now carrying out small
snagging works at the vaults before
officially handing them over to DSRL
this month.
A period of active commissioning
will then begin with operations of the
facility expected to begin in summer
2014.
Caithness & North Sutherland Fund,
launched to distribute the £4M
funding from the NDA in association
with the development, will receive
the next payment of £300k in 2014,
and annually after that until 2023.
November 2011: cutting the turf
March 2013: putting on the roof
March 2012: blasting the vaults
October 2013: the vaults from the air
April 2014
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News
News round-up
7
Working near
nesting birds
Every year the site has an influx of nesting birds, and it can be challenging to go about
work without disturbing them, or being disturbed by them.
However, it is important not to touch or
move any bird nest that you come
across on site, as you could be
committing an offence.
In June 2012 Rab Miller captured photos of kestrel chicks being
reared in the cliff face adjacent to D3100.
Before you arrive at the job site,
make sure you understand the job
and do as much preparatory work
away from the site as possible to
minimise time spent in the area.
The following Q&A may be helpful to
you, and your embedded
environmental advisor should also be
able to offer advice.
Consider whether exclusion zones
should be identified that stipulate
areas where personnel do not need
to enter or loiter.
Are all the birds and their nests at
Dounreay protected?
Yes, all wild birds in Scotland are
protected under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981. All the birds you
are likely to encounter at Dounreay are
classed as wild birds - this includes
crows and pigeons.
Are all wild birds and their nests
equally protected?
No, some wild bird species (known as
Schedule 1 birds) are given a higher
level of protection. These tend to be the
rarer species of wild bird, such as
raptors. It would be highly unlikely to find
a Schedule 1 listed bird nesting on the
Dounreay site.
How does the legislation differ
between Schedule 1 listed birds and
other wild birds?
For any wild bird it is an offence to kill,
injure or trap it, take or damage its eggs
or nest.
For Schedule 1 protected birds it is also
Useful tips for working near
nesting birds
If the adult birds are scared off their
eggs in cold and wet weather, the
eggs will deteriorate more quickly
than in warm sunny conditions, so try
to perform the work when conditions
are favourable.
an offence to disturb it while it is building
its nest, or when it is in or near its nest
with eggs or young, or to disturb the
bird's dependent young.
disturbance is not going deter the adult
bird from returning to the nest and if the
disturbance is not going to result in
damaging the viability of the eggs.
The only times these rules do not apply
is under certain exceptions – such as
the licensed control of some species for
permitted reasons.
What should I do to minimise my
impact if I am working around nesting
birds?
First determine whether there is good
reason for performing the work at this
critical time. Can the work be delayed or
performed elsewhere until after the
birds have fledged?
Does that mean I may be able to
disturb nesting birds that are not
Schedule 1 listed?
Yes, if there is good reason to and if the
Protect yourself from attack by birds
protecting their nests. It's advisable
to wear appropriate PPE (hard hat,
waterproofs, gloves and safety
glasses).
If it is decided that there is good reason
for performing work in an area close to
nesting birds and it is agreed that this
work should proceed, then it is
worthwhile determining whether the
work can be performed in such a way as
to minimise impact to both the nesting
birds and the personnel involved.
Dounreay planning update gets green light from Council planners
Dounreay's latest overview of planning requirements for the site's decommissioning programme has
been approved by planners.
The Highland Council's Planning,
Environment and Development
Committee approved the Dounreay
Planning Framework 2 (DPF2) on
February 13.
The document is essentially a guide to
land use and development on the site.
DSRL and the Council prepared the
document, which went out for
April 2014
consultation in November 2013, and
the key issues raised were
incorporated into the document.
Once DPF2 is approved by the
Scottish Government, it will replace
the existing Dounreay Planning
Framework document that has been in
place since 2006, and will become
Supplementary Guidance to the
Highland-wide Development Plan.
DPF2 is an up-to-date overview of the
site restoration programme,
regulatory regimes and
decommissioning works, and
provides explanation of the wider
context for the building and demolition
works that will be needed to enable the
environmental restoration of the site.
DSRL's planning application manager
Carl Beck said: "The second edition of
the Dounreay Planning Framework
brings up to date the latest plans for
decommissioning and restoring the
Dounreay site.
“DSRL have worked closely with the
Highland Council to produce a land
use plan to support the Highland-wide
Local Development Plan. It paves the
way for future planning applications."
www.dounreay.com
8
Dounreay News
News round-up
The announcement that
meant the end of PFR
Former UKAEA worker, local historian and story teller Alistair Fraser explains how
Government decisions spelled the end of the fast reactor programme at Dounreay.
1988 was to prove to be a defining
year in the history of Dounreay.
speculation on Dounreay's future
continued.
There was press speculation that
the government was considering
cancelling the fast reactor research
programme. Such a decision would
be very serious for the Dounreay site
and its workforce because, after all,
this programme was its raison
d'etre.
With concern growing among the
workforce, the various unions held
meetings to express their concern
and garner support. The Dounreay
Action Group (DAG), an umbrella
organisation set up to promote
D o u n r e a y, l o b b i e d M P s ,
government departments and trade
unions.
The Department of Energy
dismissed these reports as
speculative, saying that the
Secretary of State for Energy, Cecil
Parkinson, was aware of the
position at Dounreay.
“We have nothing more to say at this
moment,” said a spokesperson.
In early April 1988 the MP for the
area, Robert Maclennan, met with
Lord Marshall, chairman of the
Central Electricity Generating
Board.
Support from Lord Marshall, a
former chairman of the UKAEA, was
vital because the CEGB provided
30% of the fast reactor research
funding.
Lord Marshall was unable to tell Mr
Maclennan when the CEGB would
take a final decision on its continued
support - £30m of the UKAEA's
annual budget for fast reactor
research, the bulk of which was
spent at Dounreay.
Meanwhile a spokesperson at the
Department of Energy repeated that
there was no timetable for a
decision to be taken by the
Secretary for Energy following the
government's review of the fast
reactor programme.
The Secretary of State for Scotland,
Malcolm Rifkind, speaking at Wick
in June, also followed this line.
“It would be premature to say
whether the Department of Energy
will wish to make any
recommendations at all,” said Mr
Rifkind. “The Scottish Office would
be ultimately involved in any
discussions.”
Early in July, a delegation of
Highland Region and Caithness
District councillors met in London
with Michael Spicer, the Energy
Minister. He assured the delegation
that the government had no
intention of losing the technological
initiatives gained through decades
of research and development at
Dounreay.
Cecil Parkinson at Dounreay in 1987
of £10m per annum, which would
maintain research and
development.
“In considering the programme we
have also had firmly in mind the
importance of Dounreay to the
Caithness economy and the
contribution of the people of
Caithness to the development of the
fast reactor,” he said.
Mr Maclennan later called on Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher and
Cecil Parkinson to make an early
statement about Dounreay to end
fears that the plant could close or
face massive rundown.
Just over a week later, on July 21,
Cecil Parkinson addressed the
House of Commons on his
government's energy review.
“We recognise that there is a
continuing benefit to be secured
from operation of the PFR. We have
therefore decided to fund the
reactor until the end of the financial
year 1993/94. This will allow
operating experience to
accumulate for a further five years.
In May it was reported that PFR had
grossed £2m in income from
electricity during April, which
prompted Dounreay Director Gerry
Jordan to say this was a remarkable
figure for the research and
development plant. Nevertheless,
He advised the members that the
commercial use of fast reactors in
the UK would not be needed for 30
or 40 years. Accordingly
expenditure on the fast reactor
programme would be reduced from
the current level of £105m to a figure
“We have also decided to fund the
reprocessing plant at Dounreay
until 1996/97 in order to process
spent fuel from the reactor. Our
decision will ensure continuing and
substantial employment at
Dounreay into the late 1990s,” said
April 2014
Mr Parkinson.
The announcement had a
galvanising effect on the
c o m m u n i t y. T h e C a i t h n e s s
Chamber of Commerce called for
the creation of a Caithness
Development Corporation, to
safeguard the county's economy
and cushion the Dounreay impact.
DAG campaigned with the slogan:
“Support Dounreay – It's Your
Future”.
Over 500 people packed into the
Viewfirth Sports and Social Club to
hear MPs, local councillors and
Trade Union officials all condemn
the recent announcement and call
on the government to reconsider its
decision.
Despite extensive lobbying the
government held firm and PFR
closed down at the end of March
1994.
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News
News round-up
9
PFR
shutdown
remembered
A beautiful dream
As I've said elsewhere, the prospect
of almost endless power offered by
the fast reactor just seemed to me to
be a beautiful dream, something I
really wanted to be part of.
I succeeded Tony Broomfield as
Head of PFR Division in 1984 and
remained responsible, in various
guises, for PFR until 1993.
The problems with the steam
generators, particularly the
evaporators, are well known and
there will always be a question of
what might have happened if the
steam side had performed as
expected.
Nevertheless there were plenty of
successes, in particular the fuel
which well exceeded its target in
terms of burn up. However, what
really sticks in the mind is the way
the team faced up to each of the
challenges which arose.
was the recovery of the reactor after
the oil ingress incident: not many
outwith PFR gave us much of a
chance but the station was returned
to operation and had the best (and
final) year of its life as far as
generation was concerned.
Probably the best example of this
Colin Gregory - Retired worker
April 2014
www.dounreay.com
10 Dounreay News
News round-up
PFR timeline
February 9, 1966
June 21, 1966
June 1967
May 1968
February 22, 1973
August 17, 1973
March 3, 1974
January 16, 1975
July 24, 1976
February 25, 1977
December 19, 1977
Summer 1978
December 1978
December 1979
April 1980
May 1981
September 14, 1981
June 1982
March 1984
September 13, 1984
September 1984
December 1984
March 4, 1985
May 1985
June 1986
September 1986
November 1986
September 1987
October 1987
June 1988
July 1988
October 1988
October 31, 1990
October 1992
November 1992
December 30, 1992
June 1993
June 1993
November 1993
March 31, 1994
April 2014
Parliamentary approval for PFR
construction
Official opening of PFR construction site
Construction work on PFR site
Reactor tank awaiting transfer to concrete
vault
First generation of electricity using
'conventional' steam
Sodium fill of primary circuit completed
First criticality of reactor
First synchronisation of the turbine using
'nuclear' steam
First operation of three secondary circuits
600 MW(thermal) power achieved
First discharge of irradiated fuel from the
reactor
Until November 1993, each summer,
thousands of visitors tour PFR,
accompanied by trained guides
Fuel design burn-up (7.5%) exceeded by
experimental fuel
10% burn-up exceeded by experimental
fuel
First evaporator tube sleeving tests carried
out (Evaporator 2)
7.5% burn-up exceeded by standard fuel
First dispatch of irradiated fuel for
reprocessing
Loading of the first sub-assembly
containing plutonium from recycled PFR
fuel
Sleeving of evaporator tubes is completed
200 MW (electric) generation achieved
10% burn-up exceeded by standard fuel
First replacement tube bundle fitted
(Reheater 3)
250 MW (electric) generation achieved
Buffer store commissioned
Generator transformer replaced
15% burn-up exceeded by standard fuel
Second replacement tube bundle fitted
(Superheater 3)
Remaining replacement tube bundles fitted
Seaweed barrier completed
20% burn-up exceeded by experimental
fuel
Government announcement of cessation of
PFR funding after March 31, 1994
New simulator commissioned
PFR, as part of the Dounreay site, licensed
by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
Primary pump valve replacement
completed
Repairs to evaporator baffles
Operations resumed after oil ingress work
23% burn-up exceeded by experimental
fuel
19% burn-up exceeded by standard fuel
Guided tours of PFR end
PFR closure
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News 11
News round-up
PFR Stone Table
The PFR stone table (aka the
commissioning stone) is made of
Scottish granite and was designed
by the Authority's Chief Architect,
Richard Brocklesby. It was made by
Messrs Tawse of Aberdeen (John
Fyffe Ltd) and is 4 feet high with a
slightly convex circular top that is 4
feet in diameter and 9 inches thick at
its perpendicular outer edge.
The incised symbols and inscription
on the table top and the lettering on
its edge are the work of Maxwell
Allan, Edinburgh sculptor. At the
UKAEA's suggestion he has linked
the latin inscription “E CATHENESIA
AD MVNDVM” (Out of Caithness to
the world) with certain ancient
Pictish symbols and modern
nuclear symbols.
The lettering on the edge of the table
is “XXI DIE IVNII MCMLXVI.
IOHANNE SINCLAIR LOCVM
REGINAE TENENTE” (21ST June
1966, John Sinclair being the
Queen's Lieutenant).
The bronze vase on the table (now
missing) was made by Messrs
Cornwall & Co. Ltd of Manchester.
All the Pictish symbols used,
including those within the
representation of the reactor, are
from the Ulbster stone (on display at
Caithness Horizons). The design is
intended to lead the eye, by means
of the written word, in conjunction
with the symbols, from the crescent
symbol through the reactor and
beyond.
The Pictish crescent symbol is
thought to indicate the next in line –
a “regulus”, the ruler of a province.
The symbols on the Caithness side
are of marine and rural nature,
suggesting fishing and agriculture.
The elephant symbol on the world
side denotes strength emanating
from the reactor for the benefit of
mankind.
The reactor symbol is constructed
of the Pictish “step” symbol in such
a way as to represent the reactor
component and coolant flow
system.
April 2014
The molecular symbols on either
side of the reactor are a
composition of the well known
Celtic “Spectacle” symbol. They are
entwined with the Celtic “Eternity”
symbol.
The PFR opening ceremony was
held on 21 June 1966 (one month
before England won the world cup)
and was filmed (copy held in the
Scottish Screen archives). The list of
invited guests was long and varied.
The ceremony was opened by Roy
Matthews, Dounreay Director. The
main speaker was Sir Wiliam
Penney, KBE, FRS, Chairman of the
UKAEA at whose invitation Mr John
Sinclair, MBE, Lord Lieutenant of
the County of Caithness, unveiled a
commemorative stone table.
The salute was a new pipe tune
entitled “Power from the North” and
was especially composed for the
occasion by crofter John MacKay
of Trantlebeg. The piper was site
photographer and Thurso Pipe
Band member John Macrae. The
pipe band also played during the
ceremony.
A marquee was erected for the
guests and on display in the
marquee was an artist's impression
of PFR painted by P Sainsbury.
There were also two models of PFR,
one being sectional.
The benediction was given by Rev.
Ian Cameron, Minister of the Parish
of Reay and the toast to PFR by
Richard Moore GC, CBE,
Managing Director of the UKAEA
Reactor Group.
The first turf was cut by using a
mechanical digger in front of some
old farm cottages.
A sad farewell for some but the spirit lives on
I joined a full-house in the main
canteen to witness the closing
ceremony which was relayed to
television screens via vans, sporting
giant satellite dishes, parked
outside the canteen and PFR.
from the local authority, trade unions
and the general public and the
Dounreay workforce, the
transmission line cost was a
stumbling block. But help was at
hand, or so political gossip goes.
The closing down ceremony was
itself uneventful because nothing
visible actually happened, no
flashing lights, no noisy klaxons,
only the image of Gordon Blagden,
the senior shift-manager on duty
that day, seated at the control desk,
surrounded by a number of UKAEA
dignitaries.
The industrial landscape of
Scotland was taking a bit of a
pounding in the mid-sixties and the
labour secretary of state for
Scotland, Willie Ross, advised the
prime minister, Harold Wilson, that
if PFR was not sited at Dounreay, he
would resign. It was a resignation
too far for Mr Wilson, and so PFR
was sited at Dounreay, and the
Dounreay-Beauly transmission line
was built.
A number of PFR employees were
very unhappy, even bitter, that PFR
was not given a stay of execution.
Many had worked nowhere else on
site other than PFR so it was a
wrench.
What they were not to know that day
was that whilst the powerful heartbeat of PFR was now dead, its spirit
would eventually rise again,
ironically via the system that was
used in the sixties as an argument
against the siting of PFR at
Dounreay, the necessary, but very
expensive transmission line from
Dounreay to Beauly.
Fast forward to the present day
where all the talk is about renewable
energy from a variety of sources,
including wind and tide. On a bleak
hillside at the northern end of
Halladale, facilities are being
constructed that will take in this
power from whatever source, and
will then feed it onto the DounreayBeauly line, which has been
extensively upgraded over the past
two years.
Alistair Fraser - retired worker
Whilst there was strong support
www.dounreay.com
12 Dounreay News
From the frontiers of fast reactor
technology to the frontiers of
decommissioning, PFR has always
enjoyed a high profile role in the
eyes of World Association of
Nuclear Operators.
When I took over the
decommissioning of PFR it had
already enjoyed a full life of research
and development of fast reactor
technology and mixed oxide fuel
development as a precursor to the
demonstration commercial fast
reactor for Europe, which was never
built.
PFR had begun the transition from
R&D to decommissioning with the
development and application of
water vapour nitrogen technology to
remove all traces of alkali metal
contamination from secondary
steam generating pipework and
drained the reactor systems of 1500
tonnes of sodium coolant.
PFR carried over many of the
rigours of job control from reactor
operating methodology into its
decommissioning activities and the
challenge was to migrate
operations to a more streamlined
safe system of work commensurate
with the challenges of
decommissioning.
This area proved to be one of the
most difficult cultural changes for
PFR with their sound safety record
reinforcing custom and practice.
PFR has enjoyed huge levels of
decommissioning in three distinct
areas:
News round-up
Broomfield, who told the guests:
“The lives of many here present,
including my own, will be changed
tomorrow when this flagship plant
generates its last unit of electricity.
Bonds between those involved will
remain.”
• conventional strip out of
equipment, asbestos and
electrical components
• removal and destruction of
sodium and sodium coated
components
• dismantling of nuclear
contaminated and activated
components included mixed
oxide nuclear fuel
The teams have clearly
demonstrated the benefits of a
smooth transition from operations
into decommissioning with
continuity of knowledge and
professionalism. It is not easy to
dismantle your life's work at the
frontiers of research and
development but the considerable
challenges of dismantling Britain's
biggest fast reactor has challenged
the ingenuity and flexibility of this
unique team.
In my opinion the team have risen to
the challenge. Granted this is not
rocket science but it is nuclear
decommissioning with the added
twist of alkali metal and the most
irradiated reactor core in Britain. It
was a pleasure and privilege to work
with this team of scientists,
engineers and decommissioning
operators on Britain's most complex
nuclear reactor decommissioning
project.
Mike Brown
Strategy Implementation Manager,
Dounreay
Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority
PFR Shutdown
(Dounreay News 1993)
VIP guests from around the world
joined PFR staff past and present at a
ceremony to mark 20 years of
operations on March 30, the day
before the reactor was finally closed
down.
BBC and Independent Television
crews made use of a satellite link to
London while radio reporters set up a
studio in the external affairs
department and carried out a series of
interviews for local and national
programmes. Radio 5 Live, in its first
week of transmissions, broadcast live
for 15 minutes from Dounreay.
The main reception was held in the
Welcome Break, converted into an
auditorium for the occasion. A live TV
link was provided to the PFR control
room to allow the 200 guests to watch
the start of the wind-down process,
initiated by senior shift manager,
Gordon Blagdon.
The ceremony was hosted by Reactor
Services Business Director, Tony
April 2014
He went on: “I believe those who have
been involved in the PFR project can
be proud of what has been achieved.
We have been fortunate in our careers
to have had this focus for our
enthusiasm and energy in the
advancement of nuclear technology,
and, at least until tomorrow, of having
Government funding in support of
operations!”
The keynote speech was made by
former UKAEA Chairman Sir John
Hill, who told his audience: “PFR has
been a great success. In the over 20
years in which it has operated it has
done everything that was hoped of it
and almost everything of which it is
capable.”
He declared: “To be capable of
building reactors that can produce as
much electricity as we need, almost
for ever, without polluting the
environment with combustion
products or having to import any new
fuel, is some achievement.”
He also commented: “It is a great pity
that the Government did not give it
time to complete its job, particularly
as it is now running so well and
covering so much of its costs from the
sale of electricity. It is therefore with
great sadness that we have to accept
that the time has come for it to go into
honourable retirement.
“Do not regard the great work you
have done as in any way wasted. That
would be a great mistake.”
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News 13
News round-up
Training Dates
These are a selection of the training courses being run in April. For more
information and to arrange your training please check the training event calendar
on the intranet and SAP for dates, or call Dounreay Training (x4735).
April
Course Title
Venue
1
Asbestos course for Doctors
External
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
MOD1 Works Control system overview
Dounreay
1
Utility/ATV vehicle awareness
Dounreay
1, 11, 17
N109 MEWP scissors
Ormlie
1, 7
Pressurised suits theory
Dounreay
1, 2
Pressurised suits practical
Dounreay
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Site induction
Dounreay
2
CEMAR (am or pm)
Dounreay
2
Intro to project management (APM)
Dounreay
2, 24
N706 mobile towers
Ormlie
2, 23
N402 slinger/signaller refresher
Ormlie
2
RMC training (full course)
Dounreay
2
Asbestos awareness
Dounreay
2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Basic radiological induction
Dounreay
3
CEMAR (am)
Dounreay
3, 25
N104 overhead crane refresher
Ormlie
3, 16, 24
Management Systems awareness
Dounreay
3, 10, 17, 24
Fire & Security refresher
Dounreay
4, 11, 25, 30
Emergency first aid
Dounreay
4
N723 harness & fall arrest (pm)
Ormlie
4
CPC driver
Thurso
7
N108 MEWP boom
Ormlie
7
Asbestos awareness refresher
Dounreay
7
Portable appliance testing
Dounreay
8
C&G 17th edition wiring regs
Dounreay
8, 30
MOD3 Safe systems of work upgrade
Dounreay
8
N104 overhead crane novice
Ormlie
9
EA12 forward control point liaison officer
Dounreay
9
MOD2 risk assess & specialist advice
Dounreay
10
Manual handling (high risks)
Dounreay
10
COSHH & DSEAR
Dounreay
10
Asbestos non licenced full
Dounreay
10, 24
EA14 local incident controller
Dounreay
14, 28
Confined space operator
Dounreay
14
N402 slinger/signaller novice
Ormlie
14
Temporary containment
Dounreay
16, 22
N001 counterbalance forklift refresher
Ormlie
17
Basic criticality
Dounreay
17
Asbestos non licenced refresher
Dounreay
22
IOSH managing safety
Dounreay
28
N001 counterbalance forklift novice
Ormlie
29
Radiation worker
Dounreay
29
Industrial gas user
Dounreay
29, 30
NEC introduction
Dounreay
April 2014
Ormlie club
girls donate
Alan Scullion has sent in a photo of the
Ormlie Girls' latest charity donation, on the
eve of its diamond anniversary.
Since its formation 15 years ago, Ormlie
Girls has maintained its tradition of
supporting local good causes by
donating £1,000 to Thurso Town
Improvements Association.
Previous recipients have included the
Three Bears Nursery, Thurso Youth
Club, the Couthie Corner and many
other local charities.
The 25 'Girls' raise money during the
year through raffles, quizzes,
sponsored walks, car boot sales and
selling a very popular recipe book.
One or two events are held in the Club in
Brownhill Road each month, featuring
an entertaining variety of talks and
participative activities including food
tasting, beetle drives, makeup and
cookery demonstrations and seasonal
parties.
Ormlie Club was founded by workers
that resided in the Dounreay hostel, and
is fast approaching its diamond
anniversary.
Both the Club and the Ormlie Girls
welcomes new members – visit their
Facebook page for more information.
A significant part of Ormlie Girls'
membership comprise Dounreay
workers, former workers, and spouses
of former workers.
Site induction gets accreditation
Dounreay's site induction course has now been accredited by
the National Skills Academy Nuclear, as meeting the
requirement for Basic Common Induction Standard (BCIS).
BCIS is the first stage in the nuclear
industry standard for achieving
unescorted access to nuclear sites.
The standard ensures that individuals
"recognise and understand the
importance and need for safety and
security requirements, awareness of
radiological hazards, environmental
issues and individuals HSE
responsibilities while on a licensed
nuclear site”
From April 8, all employees and
contractors will undertake BCIS and a
short assessment, as part of the
standard induction process to site.
They will be issued with a BCIS
Certificate, which can be recorded on
their Nuclear Skills Passport and will be
recognised and accepted at other sites.
www.dounreay.com
14 Dounreay News
News round-up
HEALTH MATTERS
Giving up smoking
It's never too late to stop smoking, and when you do, the risks to your health drop
dramatically says OHD nurse Claire Helliwell.
After 20 minutes - blood pressure
and pulse rate return to normal.
After 8 hours - nicotine and
carbon monoxide levels in blood
reduce by half and oxygen levels
return to normal.
After 48 hours - carbon monoxide
will be eliminated from the body.
Lungs start to clear out mucus and
other smoking debris and there is
no nicotine in the body. Ability to
taste and smell is greatly improved.
After 72 hours - breathing
becomes easier. Bronchial tubes
begin to relax and energy levels
increase.
After 2-12 weeks - your
circulation improves.
After 3-9 months - coughs,
wheezing and breathing problems
improve as lung function increases
by up to 10%.
After 5 years - Risk of heart
attacks falls to about half compared
with a person who is still smoking.
After 10 years - Risk of lung
cancer falls to half that of a smoker.
Risk of heart attack falls to the same
as someone who has never smoked
Excuses that smokers use to delay
quitting, and how to overcome
them.
Excuse 1: the damage is done
You might feel that because you
smoke, you've already increased
your chance of getting cancer or
another smoking-related disease,
so quitting now won't make any
difference.
In fact, as soon as you quit, your
April 2014
body starts to
repair itself. You'll
n o t i c e
improvements in
your breathing and
sense of taste and
smell just a few
d a y s a f t e r
stopping. You'll also
improve the health
of your family and
friends by not
exposing them to
passive smoking.
Excuse 2: I'll gain
weight
Medical evidence
shows that nicotine
doesn't stop you
g e t t i n g h u n g r y.
Nicotine makes you
burn calories faster,
but as long as you remember that
you need less food energy, quitting
won't actually make you gain
weight.
Try eating low-fat options and take
up an activity instead of replacing
cigarettes with food.
Excuse 4: it's not the right time to
quit smoking
Although it's true that you shouldn't
try to quit during particularly
stressful times, don't use this as an
excuse to never try quitting.
Excuse 3: I'll get stressed
Despite what you may think,
nicotine doesn't calm you down.
Nicotine cravings between
cigarettes make you feel stressed
and anxious, so when you smoke
the cigarette you feel calmer. But
you'll feel less stressed once you
quit and don't have cravings any
more.
If you want a cigarette, wait for 10
minutes and the craving will usually
pass. Take some deep breaths or
go for a walk to relieve the stress
and distract you from those
cravings.
Pick a particular date, such as the
beginning of a holiday or the
beginning of a working week. Work
out what makes you want a
cigarette, such as having a cup of
tea or going to the pub, and pick a
day when you can avoid these
triggers.
Have you visited your local
pharmacy?
yourself and the pharmacist.
Treatment may include patches,
sprays, lozenges and many more.
All it takes is a visit to your
pharmacy, a short form to complete
and you're on your way to a smoke
free life.
Make the step, you won't regret it.
OHD will have appointments for
lung function testing on Wednesday
April 23 for anyone wishing to check
their lung function. The test involves
you taking some deep breaths and
blowing into our spirometry tester.
Feel free to give us a call on x2184
to book an appointment.
All our local pharmacies provide a
free smoking cessation program
which involves a 12 week course of
whichever treatment is agreed with
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News 15
News round-up
NDA looks for mentors as
business scheme launched
NDA has launched a mentoring scheme for smaller businesses to help
them benefit from the huge opportunities offered by the nuclear
decommissioning industry.
The NDA Estate Mentor Scheme will
pair up small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) with industry
professionals who will offer support
and guidance on securing work in
the sector for the first time or
increasing the volume of work
already on their books.
The scheme, which is free to
participants, will initially run as a
pilot for 12 months from April and is
one of a number of initiatives by the
NDA to promote and encourage
SME participation across its estate.
All UK-based SMEs are eligible to
apply for the scheme, regardless of
which sector they operate in, but
must either have an aspiration to
work on an NDA site or be keen to
increase the volume of work they
already undertake across the NDA
estate.
can boost the volume of orders on
their books from our sites.”
Ron Gorham, the NDA's head of
supply chain optimisation, said: "A
healthy, vibrant supply chain is vital
for us to be able to effectively deliver
our mission to clean up Britain's
nuclear legacy. "We are committed
to encouraging as many SMEs as
possible to enter our supply chain,
which helps ensure that we promote
economic growth in the
communities in which we operate.
Mentors and mentees on the
scheme will commit to
communicate regularly and build
relationships of mutual support with
the objective of making the mentee
more effective in entering or working
in the NDA supply chain.
"This scheme will help any small
business with an interest in working
on the NDA estate to understand
how they can make themselves
more effective in winning work and
will give firms already involved in the
supply chain advice on how they
The NDA is keen to hear from
people who wish to become
mentors or mentees.
To apply, you must be a qualified
and experienced nuclear industry
professional, whose expertise
reflects the activities undertaken on
the NDA estate.
Marta donates proceeds
of auction to Balmore
Approaching the completion of her two-year secondment to DSRL, former
environmental operations manager Marta Green had accumulated some
items that could not practicably be shipped back or used in the States. So
she invited friends to a silent auction to benefit the Balmore Animal Rescue
and Rehoming Centre.
The appliances, TVs and a gas BBQ
all have new homes and thanks to
the generous bids of several DSRL
employees, £205 was raised for
Balmore.
Secretary of the Caithness branch
of volunteer fundraisers Dawn
Milnes said: “We are always looking
for new fundraising ideas and
anyone willing to help out at our
events. We would like to say a huge
thank you to Marta for her very
generous donation to the centre.”
Mandy MacIntyre from Balmore
said: “This year is the 20th
anniversary of the SSPCA centre, at
Balmore.
April 2014
“Over the years we
have managed to
rehome many
animals, from dogs
and cats to the
smaller animals.
“We have also helped
wild animals that are
injured or requiring
our help and we
would not have been
able to do this without
the help, support and
generosity from the
general public, local
businesses, staff and
our hard-working
f u n d r a i s i n g
committee.”
Quotable Quotes
I fear that somebody must have spiked
Mr Almunia's sangria. This man is talking
'estupideces' – it means twaddle, where I
come from. Nuclear power isn't something
you can afford to sit around waiting to
happen. It involves years of planning and
huge investment. The idea that a whole raft
of different companies may be queuing up
in the wings to throw their own money at
Britain is laughable and easily denied.
Local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger is
outraged that the EuropeanCommission
have criticised the strike price deal with
EDF for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear
power, accusing EC competition
commissioner Joaquin Almunia of trying
to scupper Britain's energy strategy
(SouthWest Business)
The Scottish Environment Protection
Agency has informed stakeholders of an
incident in the civil aspects of Dounreay and
will report today on that. The agency does
not expect the incident to have wide
environmental implications; indeed, it
seems to have been safely contained.
However, that provides an illustration of
openness and transparency, which is
hugely important in dealing with such
matters.
First Minister Alex Salmond speaking in
First Minister's question time in Holyrood
about the “smouldering waste” at
Dounreay
We are fortunate this was a minor event,
but it does confirm that the Bristol Channel
is subject to seismic events. Four hundred
years ago a larger quake caused a huge
tsunami in the channel and the Severn
Estuary. The Great Flood Event of 1607
killed thousands and wrecked the
economies of Somerset, Gloucestershire
and South Wales. It over-topped Hinkley
Point and destroyed the small habitation
which is now the city of Cardiff...This is a
warning to stop Hinkley Point now and call
for an imminent risk assessment before any
further work is taken.
Richard Cottrell, former Euro MP for
Bristol, says that the minor earthquake
that hit Bristol in February should be a
warning not to construct another nuclear
power station at Hinkley Point (North
Devon Gazette)
Albion Square is an excellent example of
how we can work with colleagues at BEC,
Copeland Borough Council and the supply
chain to deliver a project that not only
enables Sellafield Ltd to relocate staff giving
us greater flexibility to deliver
decommissioning on site, but also will bring
real economic benefits to Whitehaven itself.
John Clarke, CEO of the NDA and a BEC
Board member commenting the £20m
office block in Whitehaven which will be
home to around 1,000 Sellafield
employees being relocated off site, who
it is hoped will stimulate Whitehaven's
retail sector (North-West Evening Mail)
www.dounreay.com
16 Dounreay News
News round-up
Welcoming Bob to site
Bob Kury is the new deputy Managing Director responsible for the Support Directorate.
He will take over from Dyan Foss at
support,
organisational
Easter.
development and strategic
technical advice to the Magnox
With more than 30 years of
decommissioning programme.
professional experience at nuclear
sites in the US and abroad, Bob is
Bob is married to Laura, and they
the Vice President for CH2M HILL's
have two children, Britt and Tyler,
Nuclear Liabilities D&D Programme
who are both in University in the US.
Management organisation, which
provides leadership and direction
In his free time Bob enjoys golfing
for Asian and UK business
and fishing. He is looking forward to
development opportunities.
trying out the many opportunities in
the county to pursue these past
Bob's experience in the UK involves
times.
providing leadership, direction,
Apprentices give models
a new lease of life
Dounreay's apprentices have done a cracking job with restoring and refurbishing the
ageing reactor models of DFR and PFR.
Back in pride of place, within the
exhibition area dedicated to the
history of Dounreay, the models
have been returned to their original
home.
Shining brightly with newly fitted
lighting and broken and missing
parts mended and replaced, the
apprentices have dedicated some
of their time to bringing the models
back to their former glory.
Accompanying the models back to
Caithness Horizons are two of the
apprentices involved, Martin Gunn
and Gary Beales, who are pictured
with Caithness Horizons curator,
Joanne Howdle.
Talking about the work they did,
Gary said: We cleaned up the
models of the DFR dome and PFR
and replaced the lighting with low
wattage LEDs and gave the dome a
fresh coat of paint. It was great
April 2014
being able to do something different
with the skills we have learnt at work
and college.”
Martin added, “I enjoyed working on
these models as it gave me an
opportunity to use my skills that I've
picked up at work. I'm very happy
with how the models turned out after
we put in led lighting and gave the
models a much needed clean and a
coat of fresh paint.”
Praising the work of the
apprentices, Joanne Howdle said:
“I can't thank the apprentices
enough for doing such a fantastic
job and making the models look like
new again. They really have done
themselves proud and we are very
grateful for the time and effort they
have dedicated to this project. The
models are extremely popular
exhibits within our museum and it's
great to have them back where they
belong for our visitors to enjoy.”
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News 17
News round-up
STEM Ambassadors help out
at science fest
Over 700 people attended the Caithness International Science Festival held at the end
of March at the Wick Assembly Rooms.
STEM Ambassadors, under the
coordination of DSRL's Pat Kieran,
assisted with the workshops and
the end of festival family fun day.
Among the exhibitors taking part
were 'Animal Magic' who brought
along a selection of exotic wildlife
including giant millipedes, Whale &
Dolphin Conservation, the
Caithness branch of the British
Science Association, and DSRL.
Speed dating
Over 190 third year pupils from three
secondary schools have been given
advice on subjects they should
consider studying for a future in
Science, Technology, Engineering
and Maths - known as STEM.
The event, called Speed Careers is
run by DSRL and supported by
STEM Ambassadors in the North of
Scotland who gave their time to
pass on their valuable advice to
these pupils at a crucial time in their
schooling.
April 2014
This is the fourth year this event has
been run and is starting to show
dividends with positive feedback
from teachers and employers. This
year's event visited Thurso High
School, Wick High School and
Golspie High School.
www.dounreay.com
18 Dounreay News
News round-up
DFARS say goodbye
to SAS assessor
Scottish Ambulance Service assessor Dave Currie received a special retirement send
off from his friends in the Dounreay Fire Ambulance and Rescue Service (DFARS) when
he came to site for the last time in March.
Dave has had an association with
DFARS for the last 22 years, ever
since he trained Dounreay's first
ambulance technician Raymond
McBeath at the Scottish
Ambulance Service training centre
in Glasgow.
Dave moved up to Inverness some
years later and became a training
officer at the Scottish Ambulance
Service headquarters, and has
since been training all Dounreay's
ambulance technicians on a six
monthly basis when they carry out
their ambulance assessments.
Dounreay now has seventeen
ambulance technicians trained up
to Scottish Ambulance Service
standards.
Dave was presented with an
engraved glass and a bottle of malt
whisky by the crews when he came
to site for his last assessment
before retiring.
He is pictured with Eric Gunn (left)
handing over an empty container of
malt whisky – to remind Dave to
collect the bottle from reception on
his way offsite – and Raymond
(right) handing over a glass
engraved with the DFARs logo.
Charities get a helping hand through
completed Safety Challenge
Dounreay's latest Safety Challenge to drive down hand injuries was successfully
completed in November.
Five local charities were nominated
The challenge was for all
to receive £2,000 each as a result.
Directorates to go for 60 days
Representatives from HomeAid
Caithness & Sutherland, KWK9
Rescue, Radio Remedy, Caithness
Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus and
SSPCA Balmore Animal Welfare
without having a hand injury, and for
the site to generate 20 good
practices or local improvements
which would result in reduced hand
injuries.
Centre received the money from
By June 12,
DSRL at the end of March.
challenge started, we had already
April 2014
2013, when the
had 22 hand injuries.
to remain focused.
Between June and the end of
“Hands are still the most likely part
December the frequency of hand
of your body to be injured. Look
injuries slowed dramatically and
after yourself and look out for your
there were only seven during that
colleagues,” she said.
period.
DSRL Deputy MD, Dyan Foss,
encouraged everyone to continue
www.dounreay.com
Dounreay News 19
News round-up
Nuclear news
Nuclear fusion reaches significant
milestone
In February, a nuclear fusion reaction hit a
scientific milestone by generating more energy
than it consumed.
Hidden hazards in
the workplace
The breakthrough took place at the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory in the US.
In the UK in FY 2012/13 148 workers were killed at work and
78,000 employees suffered RIDDOR reportable injuries costing
society an estimated £13.8 billion (figures from HSE).
At Dounreay 66 workers were injured in
FY 2012/13 and that's 66 too many.
No matter where you work, there are
always risks involved that go unnoticed.
As children we played outside and often
came home with a few cuts and bruises.
However, we also came home with a
learning experience.
All that outdoor play taught us how to
protect ourselves from harm by being
aware of hazards. This is a skill which
can then be utilised at work to spot the
hidden hazards in the workplace. If we
focus our attention on the hidden
dangers at work we can all take steps
towards preventing the next accident.
These hidden hazards can take many
forms. It could be the chemicals you are
using at work which are highly corrosive
and could burn your skin if they came
into contact with it.
If you are using chemicals at work apply
the ERICPD principle and either
eliminate the use of the harmful product
altogether or find a safer chemical.
Discuss your options with your local AP
(Hazardous Substances) before
bringing a substance onto site.
It could be the ageing plant you are
working on. Much of our equipment is
now over fifty years old.
An example on site was the corroded
fire suppression system that was
hidden by lagging. If corrosion or any
other issues are noted during
maintenance they should be recorded
on the work order and highlighted to the
Facility Managers so corrective work
can be organised.
If you notice a problem due to ageing
plant, even though other people have
ignored it, report it to your supervisor
and raise a UNOR.
It could be the machinery you are
working on. There have been a number
of incidents in recent years where
personnel were injured whilst working
with machinery.
machine you are about to work on and
think about the risks which may occur
and how these can be managed. You
should check the machine has all its
guards fitted and is free from defects.
Always follow the safe system of work
and if a problem occurs apply the
START principle and seek your
supervisor's assistance.
Stress is another workplace hazard that
is not always obvious. Work related
stress develops because a person is
unable to cope with the demands being
placed on them.
It is important to take action immediately
if you are concerned about one of your
colleagues, or yourself, and speak to
your line manager.
These are only a few examples of the
hidden hazards that are present in the
workplace. Being aware of what could
harm us is a step in the right direction
towards preventing harm at work.
Always be vigilant and take immediate
action if you see an unsafe act or
condition.
Researchers used lasers to compress fuel
made from two heavier forms of hydrogen
sufficiently to start a nuclear fusion reactor.
The fuel was heated and compressed using
192 lasers to almost three times the density of
the centre of the sun.
The fuel did not reach ignition, at which point
the reaction would have become selfsustaining and produced large amounts of
energy.
However, researchers in the field of nuclear
fusion have hailed the achievement as a
significant step.
(CBC News)
Dungeness B seal returned to wild
A seal trapped in a seawater tank at
Dungeness B since the end of January, was
returned to the wild on March 18.
The tank, known as the forebay, contains
seawater drawn in from the English Channel by
the nuclear plant's cooling system.
The seal survived by eating fish that were also
trapped in the forebay, put on weight and was
named Davina by reactor staff.
Dungeness B worked with the British Divers
Marine Life Rescue to coax Davina onto a
specially made platform, from where she could
be returned to the sea.
(Folkestone Herald)
Oldbury recycles 140 tonnes of
batteries
One hundred and forty tonnes of redundant
batteries have been recycled from the defunct
nuclear reactor site at Oldbury.
The batters were used to supply vital back-up
power for the reactor, which stopped
generating power in 2012 and is in the process
of defuelling, before decommissioning can
begin.
The site is scheduled to enter care and
maintenance in 2027.
(Bristol Post)
Russia to trial alternative to complete
decommissioning
A radical alternative to the complete
decommissioning of a nuclear power plant is to
be trialled in Russia.
The trial involves using the buildings as bulk
waste storage facilities and then completely
covering them with an inert material – in this
case, sand.
The Voronezh nuclear power plant in Russia,
which was built but never used, is being
considered for the trial, which would entomb
the buildings in mounds of quartz sand several
metres thick.
(Nuclear Engineering International)
Protect yourself by checking the
April 2014
www.dounreay.com
20 Dounreay News
News round-up
Sue’s News Sample team
rewarded for
commitment
At the end of March, DSRL said
goodbye to:
• Alastair Macdonald
• Billy Epling
• Marta Green
• Lindy Black
• Ray Torley
DSRL also welcomed on board the
Dounreay-based staff of Johnson
Controls.
DSRL boss Mark Rouse presented
six DSRL staff with Chartered
Management Institute (CMI)
Diplomas, which they had worked
for 18 months to achieve.
Leadership and Management.
Kathryn Cartwright received a
Level 7 Diploma in Strategic
Management.
Lynda Macaskill, Maryrose
Bailey, Avril Fell, Mary-Jane
Statham and Elizabeth Irwin all
received Level 5 Diplomas in
Successful achievement of either of
these qualifications is a route to
becoming a Chartered Member of
the CMI.
The team carrying out active drain
characterisation work around the site have been
rewarded for their commitment and enthusiasm.
The team of five from the Environmental
Closure and Demolition department
collected samples beside the active
drain at three areas around the site: next
to the D8550 floor slab, the low level
waste pits and north of DFR.
The team had to contend with horrible
weather conditions but carried on in the
wind and rain, and worked through their
breaks to get the job done without any
safety or environmental issues.
Project manager Eann Plowman said
that the team went over and above what
he could have expected to get the job
completed on time.
“They came up with good solutions as
to how the job could progress whilst still
complying with the documentation,” he
said.
“The work was challenging due to the
continual possibility of finding
radiological and chemical
contamination and the controls required
were complied with fully throughout.
“I felt that their commitment and
enthusiasm to to get the job completed,
their innovative ways of containing the
samples in poor weather and their
willingness to work through their breaks
when required was deserving of some
reward.”
The analysis results from the samples
collected will be used to prepare the
decommissioning strategy for the site
active drains removal.
The team involved were Steve Innes,
Philip Ross, Valene Gunn, Neil
Rollinson (Nuvia) and John Amy. They
each received a meal voucher.
Develop career
excellence
with Dounreay
Keep your diary clear on May 2, as HR are
holding a "Developing Excellence" day
The day will be devoted to
formal presentations, held in
promoting the many training and
D8538.
career development opportunities
available to DSRL staff.
The format of the day will be a mix of
More information on the events will
be in forthcoming briefings, and will
also be posted on the intranet.
Dounreay News is edited by: Sue Thompson, Dounreay Communications
Published by DSRL on behalf of the NDA
Design & Layout by: DSRL, Graphics Services, Dounreay
PR-NP2014 Apr A1.CDR (04/14)
April 2014
DSRL©2014
informal drop-in sessions and more
Please Recycle
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when you've
finished reading it.
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