Publication Laka-library:
Some facts & figures on latest incidents (1986)
| Author | FOE |
| Date | February 1986 |
| Classification | 2.05.8.31/01 (UNITED KINGDOM - SELLAFIELD - ACCIDENTS) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
SELLAFIELD - PRESS BRIEFING FRIENDS OF THE EARTH LTD. The 'incident' on 18th February which resulted in yet another release of radioactivity into the environment, was the third such incident in three weeks at Sellafield. The following questions and answers are intended as a background briefing to the current spate of accidents and the serious questions they raise It also provides relevant information in the run-up to the publication of the long-awaited Environment Select Committee Report on Nuclear Waste (expected out in mid- March). This report is expected to be highly critical of reprocessing at Sellafield, and the Government's waste management policy. Q.1. HAVE BNFL JUST BEEN UNLUCKY WITH THE CURRENT SPATE OF ACCIDENTS OR ARE THEY ISOLATED INCIDENTS? A.1. No. Since 1950, there have been over 270 accidents on the Sellafield site. Not all of these have been radiological incidents, but some have been very serious. Since 1977, 129 incidents have been reported by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII), the vast majority of which have involved radiation. Since 1977, more than 45% of incidents at all nuclear installations in Britain have occurred at Sellafield. Q.2. HAS BNFL 's ACCIDENT RECORD IMPROVED? A.2. Superficially, the record has appeared to improve dramatically since July 1982, with 121 'incidents' between 1977 and July 1982, and only 8 since July 1982. The reason for this apparent improvement is that the reporting procedure and criteria used changed at this time. Whereas incidents were previously reported when exposures to radiation occurred above the prescribed limits, they are now only reported when over-exposures 'exceed twice the maximum annual permissible limits!
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