HC Deb 08 March 1978 vol 945 cc714-8W
Mr. Emery

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list in each of the last 15 years within the nuclear power industry in Scotland the number of (a) fatal accidents caused by radiation and the number of individuals involved, (b) serious accidents caused by radiation and the number of individuals involved, and (c) non-serious accidents caused by radiation and the number of individuals involved.

Mr. John Grant

I have been asked to reply.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the relevant information in the form available is as follows:

Number of persons involved
(a) (b) These would be occurrences reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under the Nuclear Installations (Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 1965 and earlier legislation and, in the case of nuclear installations operated by the UKAEA, under equivalent arrangements None
(c) Accidental radiation exposures exceeding the maximum permissible quarterly limits laid down in conditions attached to nuclear site licences or in the Ionising Radiations Regulations of the Factories Acts:
1963 4
1964 8
1965 3
1966 1
1967 4
1968 9
1969 6
1970 3
Nuclear Power Industry Coal Mining Agriculture
Fatal Per cent. Other Per cent. Fatal Per cent. Serious reportable Per cent. Non-reportable Per cent. Fatal Per cent. Other Per cent.
1965 Nil 2.2 0.05 0.33 * * *
1970 Nil 1.6 0.03 0.25 22.4† * *
1973 Nil 1.7 0.04 0.23 20.4‡ 0.05 2.66
1976 Nil 2.5 0.02 0.21 16.3§ 0.04 2.26
* Not available.
† 52 weeks ending March 1971.
‡53 weeks ending March 1973, a period considered to be a fairer comparison owing to strikes the following winter.
§ 52 weeks ending March 1977.

Industrial accidents in the nuclear power industry involving death or absences from work of more than three days are notifiable to the Health and Safety Executive under the Factories Acts. The

1971 3
1972 8
1973 1
1974 None
1975 None
1976 None
1977 1

The figures refer to the nuclear installations operated in Scotland by the UKAEA, the South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL). BNFL was part of the UKAEA until April 1971. UKAEA data on radiation exposures prior to the introduction of the Ionising Radiations Regulations have been obtained from the Authority's health physics records. Long-term health effects which might be associated with exposure to radiation have not been included. Also, radiation exposures from sources such as industrial radiography equipment at nuclear installations during construction are not included.

Mr. Emery

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list for 1965, 1970, 1973 and the latest available date, within the nuclear power industry in Scotland, the figure of accidents for fatal, serious and non-serious accidents as a percentage of the number of individuals employed and the comparison of the accident rates with workers in the coal industry and agricultural workers.

Mr. John Grant

I have been asked to reply.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the relevant information in the form available and in terms of numbers of persons involved is as follows:

data cover relevant employees of the UKAEA, South of Scotland Electricity Board and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. UKAEA industrial accident statistics for the years prior to 1976 have been ob- tained from the Authority's internal records which cover absences of more than one day. The percentage of "other" accidents also includes radiation exposures exceeding prescribed limits.

Fatal and serious accidents in coal mining are reportable under the Mines and Quarries Act. Non-reportable accidents are taken from information supplied to the Executive by the National Coal Board, and they involve absences from work of more than three days.

Fatal accidents in agriculture are reportable under the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act. "Other" accidents are notified to the Executive by the Department of Health and Social Security and are based on notifications of absences of more than

Nuclear Power Industry Coal Mining Agriculture
Fatal Per cent. Serious Per cent. Non-serious Per cent. Fatal Per cent. Serious reportable Per cent. Non-reportable Per cent. Fatal Per cent. Other Per cent.
1965 Nil Nil 0.09 0.05 0.33 * * *
1970 Nil Nil 0.09 0.03 0.25 22.4† * *
1973 Nil Nil 0.03 0.04 0.23 20.4‡ 0.05 2.66
1976 Nil Nil Nil 0.02 0.21 16.3§ 0.04 2.26
* Not available.
† 52 weeks ending March 1971.
‡ 52 weeks ending March 1973, a period considered to be a fairer comparison owing to strikes the following winter.
§ 52 weeks ending March 1977.

Fatal or serious accidents caused by radiation in the nuclear power industry would be those resulting from occurrences reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under the Nuclear Installations (Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 1965, earlier legislation and, in the case of the UKAEA, equivalent arrangements. Non-serious accidents are other accidental radiation exposures in the nuclear power industry exceeding prescribed limits. The data cover relevant employees of the UKAEA, the South of Scotland Electricity Board and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Fatal and serious accidents in coal mining are reportable under the Mines and Quarries Act. Non-reportable accidents are taken from information supplied to the Executive by the National Coal Board, and they involve absences from work of more than three days.

As percentage of all school leavers from education authority, grant-aided and special schools
1973–74 Per cent. 1974–75 Per cent. 1975–76 Per cent
Leavers with no SCE or equivalent qualifications 32 28 32
Leavers with D and E awards at O grade 9 10 8

three days made under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries Act.)

Mr. Emery

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list for 1965, 1970, 1973 and the latest available date, within the nuclear power industry in Scotland, the figure of accidents for fatal, serious and non-serious accidents caused by radiation as a percentage of the number of individuals employed and the comparison of the accident rates with workers in the coal industry and agricultural workers.

Mr. John Grant

I have been asked to reply.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the relevant information in the form available and in terms of numbers of persons involved is as follows:

Fatal accidents in agriculture are reportable under the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act. "Other" accidents are notified to the Executive by the Department of Health and Social Security and are based on notifications of absences of more than three days under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act.

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