By Alan Irving

Last updated at 13:49, Wednesday, 04 July 2012

Just as work starts to pave the way for new reactors in the Sellafield area, Calder Hall – the world’s first atomic power station – has won a global safety accolade for being “the best of the best”.

With the award are, from left, Lisa Jackson, Tom Kiggins, Neil Edmondson and Martin Brownridge

Calder, opened by the Queen 56 years ago, has gone nearly eight years without a lost time accident.

The plant shut down in 2003 with its huge cooling towers being demolished four years later.

Now the task is underway to remove high hazard fuel from its four redundant reactors.

The impressive safety record achieved under tough conditions has earned Calder a ‘global beacon of excellence’ award through Sellafield’s United States parent company – URS beating hundreds of other projects across the world.

The removal of some 2,700 tons of asbestos from the reactor heat exchangers has already been completed.

This week the world’s biggest crane has arrived on site to take the 50-ton 90-ft high ducts from the top of the sealed heat exchangers.

It is part of a gigantic decommissioning job which will see 40,000 highly radioactive fuel rods taken from the reactors for eventual reprocessing on the site.

“We are doing a major high hazard decommissioning,” said Head of Calder Hall, Martin Brownridge.

Workforce safety reps who were present to see the unveiling of the globe-shaped award were satisfied with the arrangements for worker protection over the six years during which the reactors have to be emptied.

Mr Brownridge said: “Our station is iconic, winning the URS Safety Project of the Year award is special. It means that all the people who have worked at Calder Hall over the years, through generations of families, will be recognised for their professionalism and performance.”

Scott Sax, Nuclear Management Partners’ spent fuel management director for Sellafield, said: “Calder Hall is unique, it has had a long successful career, generating a lot of power to help keep the lights on, it has a proud heritage and I am proud of the whole team.”

In its operational heyday the station employed around 350 mainly local people – now there are 75 left to tackle what Scott described as ‘distinctly different’ hazards but which would be done properly and safely.

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 04 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk