helent, Author at Sellafield

SRP Safety Energy Contractor of the Month: Severfield

Posted on April 24, 2025 by helent

Severfield are this month's Safety Energy Contractor of the Month on SRP: Front - left to right: Simon Clarkson, SRP health and safety advisor, Severfield's Karl Hine, senior SHE advisor, and John Dunleavey, SHE advisor, and the proud Severfield workforce on SRP. — Severfield are this month’s Safety Energy Contractor of the Month on SRP: Front – left to right: Simon Clarkson, SRP health and safety advisor, Severfield’s Karl Hine, senior SHE advisor, and John Dunleavey, SHE advisor, and the proud Severfield workforce on SRP.

Our long-term steelwork supply partner Severfield has been announced as this month’s safety energy contractor of the month on our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) project.

Severfield has delivered an excellent Safety Energy performance, showing a consistent commitment to high standards. Their response to a recent incident and follow-up engagement was exemplary, demonstrating a proactive and responsible approach to safety.

The team also supported the recent SHEQ conference, supplying MEWPs to assist with event setup, and have gone above and beyond expectations by procuring powered air purifying respirators for their own supply chain, exceeding existing standards.

A big thank you and congratulations to Severfield for setting the bar high and leading by example.

Karl Hine, Severfield senior SHE advisor, said: “Being awarded the safety energy contractor of the month is a huge accolade for Severfield and one that we have celebrated as a team.

“Since the introduction of safety energy, we have always set ourselves high targets and used them as a driving force to improve as a team on the PPP projects.

“I am really proud of the team’s commitments and effort to enable us to achieve these targets. This award is for the team, not me, as I set the targets. It’s our workforce and management team who put the effort into achieving them.

“I look forward to our next phase with safety energy where we will measure the impact of our data and push our targets up again.”

To see the previous winner, click here.

Enhancing safety with launch of People Plant Interface campaign

Posted on April 10, 2025 by helent

Ensuring everyone goes home safe is our number one priority on Major Projects and this is why we are launching a new campaign dedicated to People Plant Interface (PPI).

Plant and machinery plays a critical role in the delivery of our Major Projects at Sellafield, it also presents significant risks where collisions can cause life changing injuries and even fatalities.

A fresh PPI campaign sets out to raise awareness of these risks and highlight what we can do to enhance safety.

PPI remains a high risk, not just on our projects, but across the industry. In 2023/24, there were 53 workplace fatalities in Great Britain where a person was struck by a moving vehicle or object, or came into contact with moving machinery.

Within Major Projects our data tells us that our industry leading PPI arrangements are implemented effectively, the majority of the time, however, over the recent months, we have observed increasing trends of unsafe behaviours and conditions around plant and machinery.

These stats show that more work needs to be done in controlling the risks around PPI, especially when it comes to allowing people to work near plant and machinery. Working near live plant and machinery must always be a last resort.

This campaign will focus on giving our workforce, including those planning and controlling the work, the right level of awareness and understanding. We want to make sure everyone is empowered to challenge the way we work, changing the norm, and using their Stop Work Authority where things remain unsafe.

Over the coming months, we will be holding training sessions, hosting quizzes, and facilitating interactive scenarios, alongside inspections, to increase visibility and awareness.

The projects will also be holding focus groups with drivers, plant operators, and vehicle marshals to gather feedback and see where we can improve.

The campaign ultimately links back to our Life Saving Principles which highlights a set of non-negotiable rules surrounding PPI, which we know is a high-risk activity. This also links back to the core of everything we do — our Golden Rules.

We need to work together to ensure that every interaction we have with plant and machinery is a safe one.

Duncan Elliott, PPP managing director, said:

“We remain on our Knowingly Safe journey and the standards that we work to, the quality of what we produce, and the safety record that we have, is superb and a credit to everything we, and our teams, do.

“Across wider industry and infrastructure in the UK, PPI that isn’t controlled unfortunately does harm people. And whilst we have not caused harm to anyone, this is an area where we have seen trends increase and where we know we need to improve.

“This campaign links back to our Life Saving Principles and our Golden Rules, and it is all about keeping you safe. Use your Stop Work Authority (SAFER) if you see anything that we shouldn’t be doing and that could cause harm to people.

“Close proximity working has to be a last resort. Don’t get close to machinery that could harm you. And if, on occasion, there are critical activities that require close proximity working, we need to make sure they are properly risk assessed to keep everyone safe.”

Watch the video by clicking here to hear Duncan Elliott talk about the campaign, and its importance, and see the six non-negotiables, set out in the PPI Life Saving Principle, below.

New MEWP inspection area supports our Standard

Posted on April 8, 2025 by helent

Within the construction industry, incidents involving work at height, are high risk. So as part of Sellafield Ltd’s Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Hub, we’re committed to working alongside our supply partners to set new safety standards that allow us to stay safe in everything we do.

Ensuring every Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) entering Sellafield meets the highest standards before being used on-site is crucial to staying Knowingly Safe.

The first MEWP has now successfully completed its inspection at our newly implemented MEWP inspection area at Yottenfews crane testing facility.

The MEWP, which will go onto our SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP), underwent the inspection to ensure compliance with the latest PDD MEWP standard.

The inspection process, carried out in alignment with the newly established MEWP standard, has set a new benchmark for equipment safety on PPP and all major projects.

Following a thorough evaluation, the MEWP was signed off and approved for use on the Sellafield site.

The inspection verified that all critical safety features were fully operational, including the newly mandated secondary guarding systems, such as pressure and proximity sensing devices and physical barriers.

Dan Roberts, SHE manager for site improvements, said: “This milestone reinforces our commitment to safety by ensuring that every MEWP entering Sellafield meets the highest standards before deployment on-site.

“By proactively implementing this inspection process, we are enhancing workforce safety, reducing risk, and ensuring MEWP operations are as secure and compliant as possible.”

SCP reaches new heights with crane ready for next stages

Posted on April 8, 2025 by helent

Our SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) Upper Operating Floor crane has been shipped to storage as it awaits readiness of the process building.

SCP require two gantry cranes, located in the Upper Operating Floor (UOF), and Lower Operating Floor (LOF), of the process building, which will be used for both construction and operational phases.

During construction, the cranes will install large structural items (up to14 tonnes) such as concrete beams for the floor construction, plus large plant items, including the Pump and Valve Modules (circa 16 tonnes).

During operation, the crane’s primary task is to carry large and heavy flasking equipment to various positions around the operating floors.

This impressive crane has an approximate 21 metre span and was split into three shipments. The warehouse team, who are used to receiving large products, faced handling challenges in offloading, but with collaboration and support between all parties in advance of its arrival, it ensured a safe and successful unload of the crane.

The crane has been mounted onto wooden blocks, removing any critical load points, and allowing access for care and maintenance while in storage.

Martin Kerr, SCP project manager, said: “With another milestone reached for the project team, we now look forward to the next phase where both LOF and UOF cranes will be set to work, and provide vital support in the future construction of the building.”

The crane has had quite a journey. In July 2023, after reaching mechanical completion, the supplier’s premises in Spain was struck by devastating flooding, leaving the crane badly soiled in parts, along with damage to some of its components. A few weeks later, it safely made its way back to the UK, to SCX Sheffield, for completion of assembly and testing.

SCP’s Lower Operating Floor (LOF) crane was installed in April 2024.

Supply chain collaborate on new wellbeing room at local school

Posted on April 8, 2025 by helent

Youngsters at a West Cumbrian school are going to benefit from an outdoor ‘wellbeing room’ and sensory garden, thanks to members of our supply chain.

Altrad Babcock agreed to adopt the Cleator Moor and Egremont (CLEG) Cluster and work with the schools in the area.

So when the head of Bookwell School, in Egremont, Russell Hardy, asked for help in planning, costing and project managing the installation of an outdoor learning cabin and surrounding landscaping, they were only too happy to help.

The challenge was to create an outdoor ‘well-being room’ and sensory garden primarily designed for children with additional needs, or those that need time away from the classroom setting to learn best.

Altrad office manager, Abbie Short, coordinated the project, supported by multiple local contractors and suppliers.

Work begins

Work underway at Bookwell School Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) provided health and safety advice and did ground surveys before work began.

Then Lawsons and PCR came in to strip the area to level and entered the subbase pre concrete works.

SRM then created shuttering and poured concrete (provided by Hansens) to create a base for structures and disabled access.

Altrad then assembled the cabin (wellbeing room) and external contractors came in to plaster the cabin and fit electrics.

Altrad also painted the internals and a joiner fitted the flooring and skirting boards, ready for use.

Abbie Short said: “It was so good to work so smoothly together with all of the contractors and suppliers and everybody’s attitude to the project was amazing.

“It feels all the more meaningful seeing how much this means to the school and hearing how it will benefit all the pupils and staff.”

Inside the wellbeing cabin at Bookwell Bookwell Primary School deputy head and wellbeing lead, Shona Wolfenden, added: “We’re all very excited about our new space! We can’t believe how quickly it’s come together, with very little fuss or disruption. If only all school projects ran as smoothly!

“The cabin is going to make a huge difference to the children as we will have an extra place to work with groups doing music, crafts, listening to stories or just having some quiet time away from the busy classroom.

Work still ongoing

Work is still currently ongoing on this project to create the second phase, the sensory garden which includes a decking area, pathway, flower beds for the children to maintain and a reading realm.

This work is currently underway by Altrad with the support of Mossop Construction Ltd and a number of other suppliers and contractors: Sir Robert McAlpine, Lawsons, PC Richardson, Hanson’s Concrete, JT Atkinsons, Bewleys Electrical, Karl Hartley Plastering, Jewson’s, Phillip Carruthers Haulage, AS Design, Jacksons Timber, MKM, who have all worked collaboratively to follow through on this project.

To see our latest volunteering opportunities use the Together For Good platform.

Helping to create a community hub in Seascale

Posted on April 8, 2025 by helent

The site prior to demolition — The site in Seascale prior to demolition

Expertise from one of our key delivery partners is assisting to create a community hub in Seascale.

Volunteers from Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick (BBK) have given their time and expertise on electrical work to help the Shackles Off Youth & Community Project, which has secured funding to build a purpose-built youth and community centre in Seascale.

The BBK team is giving electrical design support to understand the power requirements for the new building to determine suitability of existing supplies or a need for new ones.

The Shackles Off Project has been in existence for 17 years and started as there was no youth provision in the immediate area.

A group of volunteers from the local churches and community saw a need and worked with young people for six months to establish their needs. In September 2008 the first open-access youth provision on a Friday night started and Shackles Off became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2021.

The project is predominately for young people, 20% of their work also focusing on family and community support.

Transforming lives

Mandy Taylor, from the Shackles Off Project, said: “Many lives are being transformed by the work we do. This extends from young people being involved in the youth clubs and informal educational workshops, to specific work with mental health, risk taking behaviour and those who are NEET (Not in education, employment, or training).

“The community work extends to: Depression support group, parent autism support group, over 50s youth club, community events. Shackles Off responds to the needs of the community we work in, so is ever evolving and reactive to change.

“We have had help from the supply chain and, in particular Balfour Beatty, who helped us with advice from time to time via Michael Holdforth.

“Michael also organised for Nathan Lucock to help with the E&I design work. Nathan’s input has been invaluable and has also helped us make some decisions that we hadn’t necessarily already thought of, saving us potential delays down the line.

“We are very grateful for both Michael and Nathan’s support to our project and also Michael for the additional volunteer work he does from time to time, including being Father Christmas for our youth club parties!”

The site after demolition — The Seascale site after demolition

To see our latest volunteering opportunities use the Together For Good platform.

Charities benefit from SCP safety performance

Posted on April 7, 2025 by helent

On our SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP), safety and generosity go hand in hand! As part of our ongoing workforce engagement, our team members contribute to meaningful causes through our charity nomination system, rewarding excellent safety observations with the power to give back.

Once the project hits its 100-observation target, employees have the opportunity to nominate a charity of their choice to receive a donation. To keep things fair and fun, SCP have recently invested in a spinning wheel, where all nominated charities are added, letting fate decide which organisation will receive our next donation!

This initiative has been running successfully for years, allowing SCP, on behalf of Altrad, to support numerous worthy causes. Some of our recent donations include:

Calvert Trust – £500
Jack’s Journey – £500
BEEP Doctors – £500
Bransty Primary School – £500

A huge thank you to everyone who participates in the observation process, helping us maintain a strong safety culture while making a real difference in our community. Keep up the great work.

Showcasing safety at Sellafield SHEQ conference

Posted on April 7, 2025 by helent

Our safety team were busy at the Sellafield SHEQ Conference, showcasing the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Hub and the positive changes it has brought in.

Colleagues who came to the conference were able to see our journey to Knowingly Safe come to life, shown on ‘The Fells’ display.

They could also see a demonstration of how innovative 4D Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is aiding our major projects.

We got some fantastic feedback on our Life Saving Principles and Mental Fitness Principles, which link back to our Golden Rules.

And we also had two of our Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) on display, thanks to Nationwide Platforms and Sunbelt Rentals.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped pull the day together and who came and supported us.

Jack Tomlinson, PPP EHS improvement manager, said: “Within PDD we are always looking for opportunities to share some of the best practices that we are driving through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Hub.

“But, more importantly, during this conference we were able to learn from the broader Sellafield enterprise and its different operating units.

“The session felt particularly engaging and it was great to see representation from all our major project EHS teams who came together to support the Knowingly Safe message.

“The HSW hub is a true symbol of collaboration and best practice and it’s great to be able to show the benefits of using supply chain expertise to fix our health and safety challenges on Sellafield.”

Scaffold removal is underway on SRP

Posted on April 3, 2025 by helent

Work has begun on removing the external scaffold which encloses the reinforced concrete box on the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP).

This began at the northeast corner and is progressing around to the west, with two lifts of scaffold being removed at a time. Scaffold boards and tubes are carefully dismantled, stockpiled, and lowered to the ground by the site lifting team, using the four tower cranes.

The scaffold strip is being carried out by Enigma Scaffolding, on behalf of Kier, and is critical for the programme of external works, particularly the interface with adjoining structural steelwork.

The work has been carefully co-ordinated to allow completion of the reinforced concrete roof, finishing of the external concrete walls, and welding of steel brackets on the east.

The scaffold strip will continue sequentially on all sides of the SRP structure through to summer 2025.

Sandy Basso, construction co-ordinator, said: “The works have been progressing well with a strong emphasis on safety. Exclusion zones are set up and checked before work starts, and operations are well controlled with clear communication between teams and scaffolders above.

“Radios are used to ensure safe access, and there is excellent co-ordination between scaffolders and the Mammoet crane gang during lifting operations.

“We have a good set of lads carrying out the work. They are all briefed before starting, fully understand their roles and responsibilities, and put safety first.”

Specialist pump success edges SCP closer to next major milestone

Posted on April 3, 2025 by helent

Our SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) team is edging closer to achieving its next major project wide milestone (PWO3), with the final remote maintainable pump passing its functional test.

Manufactured by Hayward Tyler and Stainless Metalcraft, all six pumps were tested with a range of speeds and flowrates at Hayward Tyler, based in Luton.

The pumps are used to move effluents through the system and interface with maintenance flasks and similar equipment within SCP. The pumps are remotely maintainable so, should failure occur, the inner module may be taken to SIXEP for repair.

PWO3 Completion of pump & valve modules (valves welded in) remains on track to complete on time in the coming months.