The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served a prohibition notice on Breedon Trading Ltd that prevents them from consigning or carrying radioactive materials until they comply fully with regulations.
ONR issued the prohibition notice following a routine transport compliance inspection of the company’s Clatchard Quarry facility in Fife on 19 January 2023.
Breedon Trading Ltd operates a nuclear density gauge, an instrument that uses a small amount of radioactive material to measure soil density, which can be transported for off-site use.
Companies that transport radioactive material must have procedures in place to ensure it is handled appropriately and in accordance with regulations.
ONR’s inspection highlighted that Breedon Trading Ltd had not carried out a suitable and sufficient radiation risk assessment and so had not identified safe processes for the transport of their nuclear density gauge.
There was no harm posed to employees, the public or the environment as a result of the identified shortfalls.
The prohibition notice requires Breedon Trading Ltd to halt all transport of radioactive material until the shortfalls have been resolved.
ONR will engage regularly with the company to monitor their progress.
Christopher Jones, ONR principal inspector, said: “Our inspection found there were unmanaged risks to the public and employees if the company continued to transport radioactive material, and consequently we have issued the prohibition notice to cease transport until such time as these risks are identified and mitigated”.
The prohibition notice has been issued under Regulation 8 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.