Published: Saturday, 11th October, 2008 08:30
MoD issue safety assurances
By Steve McElroy
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SAFETY is a first priority at the Faslane and Coulport naval bases despite a record high number of reported ‘safety blunders’, say MoD chiefs.
They issued assurances after it emerged that incidents included a spillage of radioactive material and contamination of workers.
Between June 2006 and May last year there were 100 lapses logged at Faslane and Coulport — 40 per cent higher than the previous year and nearly three times higher than in 2000-01.
Incidents, contained in a Ministry of Defence report, included two spillages of radioactive material on Trident submarines where radioactive cooling water spilled from a faulty hose, contaminating a worker’s shoe, dropped reactor control rods and 32 power failures.
But a Base spokesman claimed: “Safety has not been compromised. Safety is our first priority and always will be. We are proud of our record and there is nothing to be concerned about. There has not been any lapse in the day-to-day running of the military establishment.”
He said that there had been changes in the way incidents were recorded and added: “There are 6,500 people working here and we are proud of our reputation for safety.”
According to the MoD report, 41 of the incidents were caused by “operator error,” while 24 were as a result of “equipment failure” and at least 20 involved one of the four Vanguard submarines.
The MoD report stated that lessons had been learned and there were indications that the workforce had been ‘over-stretched.’ It stated that management should take action where possible to guard against ‘operator fatigue.’
Councillor George Freeman, a member of the local Liaison Committee which consist of MoD officials and fire and police officers, said: “We are all aware safety is the Base’s top priority and always has been and always will be.
“Without knowing the full background it is difficult comparing like with like, but there will always be people going to use reports like this for their own political ends and those who clearly don’t support the Faslane Base.
“The MoD has always been quite open and do not try and hide anything from us.”
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