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| Sellafield nuclear site has elevated levels of radioactivity | Sellafield nuclear site has elevated levels of radioactivity |
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| The Sellafield nuclear site is being operated with a reduced number of staff following the detection overnight of elevated levels of radioactivity. | The Sellafield nuclear site is being operated with a reduced number of staff following the detection overnight of elevated levels of radioactivity. |
| Non-essential staff are being told not to come to work, although a spokesperson for the site said this was a precautionary measure. He said it was unclear how long the plant would operate with reduced staffing and added that the radiation levels were too low to be a danger to staff or the public. | Non-essential staff are being told not to come to work, although a spokesperson for the site said this was a precautionary measure. He said it was unclear how long the plant would operate with reduced staffing and added that the radiation levels were too low to be a danger to staff or the public. |
| The operator, Sellafield Ltd, said in a statement: "As a result of a conservative and prudent decision, the Sellafield site is operating normally but with reduced manning levels today. This follows the detection of elevated levels of radioactivity at one of the on-site radiation monitors at the north end of the site. Essential workers only are being asked to report for work. | The operator, Sellafield Ltd, said in a statement: "As a result of a conservative and prudent decision, the Sellafield site is operating normally but with reduced manning levels today. This follows the detection of elevated levels of radioactivity at one of the on-site radiation monitors at the north end of the site. Essential workers only are being asked to report for work. |
| "Levels of radioactivity detected are above naturally occurring radiation but well below that which would call for any actions to be taken by the workforce on or off the site. The site is at normal status and employees and operational plants are continuing to operate as investigations continue. All our facilities have positively confirmed there are no abnormal conditions and are operating normally." | "Levels of radioactivity detected are above naturally occurring radiation but well below that which would call for any actions to be taken by the workforce on or off the site. The site is at normal status and employees and operational plants are continuing to operate as investigations continue. All our facilities have positively confirmed there are no abnormal conditions and are operating normally." |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) confirmed the elevated radioactivity but said they were "well below levels of concern". The plant was still operating and not offline, she said, but all non-essential staff had been asked to leave the site. | A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) confirmed the elevated radioactivity but said they were "well below levels of concern". The plant was still operating and not offline, she said, but all non-essential staff had been asked to leave the site. |
| Gary Smith, the national secretary for energy at the GMB union, said the majority of Sellafield's workforce had been told not to turn up for work on Friday morning. The site employs more than 10,000 people. | Gary Smith, the national secretary for energy at the GMB union, said the majority of Sellafield's workforce had been told not to turn up for work on Friday morning. The site employs more than 10,000 people. |
| The unusual radiation reading at the perimeter fence had been detected at 2am, he said. But his members at Sellafield told him that they were not aware of any problems at any of the 1,000 nuclear facilities on the site. "There's a possibility that this is a faulty air sampler," he said. | The unusual radiation reading at the perimeter fence had been detected at 2am, he said. But his members at Sellafield told him that they were not aware of any problems at any of the 1,000 nuclear facilities on the site. "There's a possibility that this is a faulty air sampler," he said. |
| Gill Wood, the national secretary of another union that represents 5,000 Sellafield staff, Prospect, said: "Non-essential staff have been advised to stay at home today while the relevant specialist team investigates. The company's decision to partially close some areas at the site is a precautionary and measured decision and a safety measure that is recognised worldwide." | Gill Wood, the national secretary of another union that represents 5,000 Sellafield staff, Prospect, said: "Non-essential staff have been advised to stay at home today while the relevant specialist team investigates. The company's decision to partially close some areas at the site is a precautionary and measured decision and a safety measure that is recognised worldwide." |
| A local newspaper, News and Star, reported that around 8,000 workers were affected. A Decc spokeswoman was unable to confirm that figure. | A local newspaper, News and Star, reported that around 8,000 workers were affected. A Decc spokeswoman was unable to confirm that figure. |
| Richard Wakeford, professor of epidemiology at the University of Manchester, said that asking non-essential workers to stay home was "a prudent precaution until the cause is known and the situation rectified". | |
| He added: "There are no operating nuclear reactors at Sellafield, so short-lived radionuclides such as iodine-131 are not present there to any significant extent – therefore no stable iodine tablets should be taken as there is no need. | He added: "There are no operating nuclear reactors at Sellafield, so short-lived radionuclides such as iodine-131 are not present there to any significant extent – therefore no stable iodine tablets should be taken as there is no need. |
| "If long-lived radionuclides, such as caesium-137, are responsible, then it will be important to find out what they are so that their source can be identified." | "If long-lived radionuclides, such as caesium-137, are responsible, then it will be important to find out what they are so that their source can be identified." |
| The local anti-nuclear group, Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment (Core), said Sellafield was putting out "mixed messages" about the radiation that were "doing little to instil public confidence". | |
| The group claimed that if there were elevated levels of radioactivity at the perimeter fence, there were probably high levels outside the site. | |
| "The warning to non-essential staff to stay home is an action by the company well above and beyond normal action," said a spokesman, Martin Forwood. "We understand that it may take some time for the company to track down the source of the raised activity but the sooner they [Sellafield] level with the public by providing a more coherent explanation of what's going on the better." | "The warning to non-essential staff to stay home is an action by the company well above and beyond normal action," said a spokesman, Martin Forwood. "We understand that it may take some time for the company to track down the source of the raised activity but the sooner they [Sellafield] level with the public by providing a more coherent explanation of what's going on the better." |
| The management at the plant has been criticised by parliament's public accounts committee (Pac) over the past year. In a report in February last year MPs said Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), which manages Sellafield, had failed to stem rising costs and delays in dealing with waste and the decommissioning of facilities. | The management at the plant has been criticised by parliament's public accounts committee (Pac) over the past year. In a report in February last year MPs said Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), which manages Sellafield, had failed to stem rising costs and delays in dealing with waste and the decommissioning of facilities. |
| "It is unclear how long it will take to deal with hazardous radioactive waste at Sellafield or how much it will cost the taxpayer. Of the 14 current major projects, 12 were behind schedule in the last year and five of those were over budget," Margaret Hodge, the Pac chair, said at the time. | "It is unclear how long it will take to deal with hazardous radioactive waste at Sellafield or how much it will cost the taxpayer. Of the 14 current major projects, 12 were behind schedule in the last year and five of those were over budget," Margaret Hodge, the Pac chair, said at the time. |
| MPs on the committee said they suspected that the NDA, a public sector body established to oversee the safe dismantling of the UK's old nuclear power stations and deal with waste, did not have a tight enough rein on NMP – a consortium made up of Amec of Britain, Areva of France and the US firm URS – to properly control costs. | MPs on the committee said they suspected that the NDA, a public sector body established to oversee the safe dismantling of the UK's old nuclear power stations and deal with waste, did not have a tight enough rein on NMP – a consortium made up of Amec of Britain, Areva of France and the US firm URS – to properly control costs. |
| A spokeswoman for the Office for Nuclear Regulation said: "ONR is aware, in contact with Sellafield and is satisfied that it is taking appropriate action." | A spokeswoman for the Office for Nuclear Regulation said: "ONR is aware, in contact with Sellafield and is satisfied that it is taking appropriate action." |
| The timing of the radioactivity warning may prove embarrassing for David Cameron, who is meeting the French president, François Hollande, to discuss joint efforts on nuclear power at a pub lunch in Oxfordshire. The UK and France signed an agreement in 2012 to work together on civil nuclear energy. The largely French state-owned EDF is building the Britain's first new nuclear power plant in decades at Hinkley Point in Somerset. | The timing of the radioactivity warning may prove embarrassing for David Cameron, who is meeting the French president, François Hollande, to discuss joint efforts on nuclear power at a pub lunch in Oxfordshire. The UK and France signed an agreement in 2012 to work together on civil nuclear energy. The largely French state-owned EDF is building the Britain's first new nuclear power plant in decades at Hinkley Point in Somerset. |