Dounreay Bulletin - Issue 15

25th November 2006

UKAEA ANNOUNCES SEABED CLEAN-UP TRIALS
UKAEA on November 21 announced plans to undertake trials of remotely-operated technology that could be used to remove substantial numbers of particles from the seabed at Dounreay. A notice placed in the Official Journal of the European Union seeks expressions of interest from companies capable of detecting and removing fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel known to be buried in the offshore sediment near the site's old effluent discharge outlet. See: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/news/2006/21_11_06.html

The Dounreay Particles Advisory Group published its Third Report on November 21. The report contains information on the source of fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel particles and possible routes of release; their current distribution in the marine environment; the probability of a member of the public encountering a particle and; the potential implications for public health. See: http://www.sepa.org.uk/radioactivity/dpag/3rd_report.htm

EQUIPMENT CONTRACT FOR NEW WASTE FACILITY
UKAEA, on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, has awarded a contract in excess of £475,000 to design, manufacture, test and install equipment for the newly constructed waste-handling facility at Dounreay. The new facility which has been built adjacent to the existing cementation plant drum store will increase the site's capacity for storing solid intermediate-level waste from the clean-up and demolition of the fast reactor experiment, an essential element in optimising the decommissioning of Dounreay. For further information see: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#Nov0604

ADDITIONAL CONTRACT FROM SHAFT PROJECT FOR LOCAL CONTRACTOR
Local contractor John Gunn & Sons has been awarded a further contract to mix and deliver grout for Dounreay's shaft isolation project. For further information see: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#Nov0601

PROJECT MANAGER SOUGHT TO DELIVER SKILLS ACADEMY
A project manager is being recruited to take forward proposals for a Nuclear Skills Academy Scotland. The proposed skills academy is being drawn up in partnership between the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, North Highland College UHI Millennium Institute and UKAEA Dounreay, which are jointly funding the project manager role. Based in Caithness, the proposed skills academy is intended to form part of the National Nuclear Skills Academy - one of 12 announced by Government on October 31st. More:http://www.ukaea.org.uk/news/2006/16_11_06.html

OLD LIBRARY COMES DOWN
One of the most visible buildings on the Dounreay site has been demolished. The old library, also known as D6000 and located near the site entrance, was built during the early 1960s. Recently it had been used as office space, but became redundant as the site decommissioning gathered speed. See: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#Nov0602

CONSTRUCTION WORK BRINGS BREEDER REMOVAL CLOSER
Following the installation of the 25 tonne crane that is now impressively taking centre stage high over the partially-clad building at the Dounreay Fast Reactor, the interior construction work is rapidly progressing and the layout of the pioneering plant to remove the breeder elements is beginning to take shape. For further information see: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#Nov0603

DFR FIRST FOR SAFETY
As part of the day-to-day routine decommissioning work at the Dounreay Fast Reactor, the team have been implementing many new safety initiatives over recent months. Personal protective equipment is crucial for safe decommissioning practices. The Miller Revolution Harness incorporates many new features and a hinged mid section has been introduced to improve both safety and comfort. DFR personnel wearing the new harness have praised the design and the new device is a substantial saving compared with the previous equipment used at the plant. See: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/dounreay_project_updates.htm#Nov0605

PFR TEAM SCOOPS TOP AWARDS FOR INNOVATION
Dounreay's Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) staff excelled themselves in this year's UKAEA-wide Innovation Award scheme, scooping three of the five prestigious awards. The scheme, started three years ago, was conceived to recognise individuals and teams who demonstrate innovative thinking and design, in order to show that UKAEA is a forward-looking organisation and very alert to recognising business opportunities. The awards span the UK with entries accepted from all five UKAEA sites. More: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/news/2006/08_11_06.html

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPLY CHAIN
Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise is hosting an event in Thurso on November 29 to keep the supply chain informed about a number of potential business opportunities. The event, at the Pentland Hotel at 4pm, includes presentations by UKAEA about the construction of a fusion reactor in France, First Point Assessment Ltd on the supplier selection process in the oil and gas sector, and the BAND Alliance, which has been awarded the contract for a major new waste treatment plant at Dounreay. For more information, contact Carol Gunn at CASE on 01847 805207 or email: carol.gunn[AT]hient.co.uk

DOUNREAY WORKERS TO SERVE IN IRAQ
Three Dounreay workers have left for Iraq to serve a six-month tour of duty with the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Captain Kevin Mackay, Lance Corporal Davie Mowat and Private Alan MacDonald, all from Caithness, were called up through the TA and went through 10 weeks of intensive training to prepare them to join the British force based in the troubled city of Basra. The men took part in the Remembrance Sunday parade in Edinburgh, before flying out to Iraq. Dounreay acting director Simon Middlemas said: "All our thoughts go with them and we wish them a safe tour of duty and a speedy return."

ALLIANCE DOUBLES CHILDREN IN NEED TOTAL
Workers at Dounreay who raised more than £4000 for Children in Need have doubled their money thanks to the alliance of three companies tasked with demolishing the site. Bosses at UKAEA, AMEC and CH2MHILL were so impressed by their efforts on Friday, November 17, that they decided to match-fund every pound raised by the workforce. This took the total amount raised at the site to £8296.

Dounreay's acting director, UKAEA's Simon Middlemas, said: "Staff here never cease to surprise me with their commitment and generosity to good causes and matching their enthusiasm pound for pound underlines the commitment of the three companies to our workforce's achievements."

ALISTAIR BECOMES DEPUTE LORD LIEUTENANT
One of Dounreay's longest-serving workers has been appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland. Alistair Fraser, whose association with the site started in the 1950s when he worked in the canteen of the construction camp as a schoolboy, is a communications officer in the site press office. He is also well-known as a former county and regional councillor, broadcaster, journalist, former member of the Crofters Commission and a Justice of the Peace.

DOUNREAY SUPPORTS HIGHLAND TOURISM AWARDS
UKAEA Dounreay has again sponsored the Highland Tourism Awards and will host a table at the prestigious event which is being held at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness on Friday, November 24.

OSCAR THE ROBOT VISITS REAY PRIMARY SCHOOL
As part of Dounreay's focus on European Safety and Health week, Oscar the robot made a visit to Reay Primary School to teach the children the importance of health eating and hygiene. Oscar, sponsored by site sub-contractor Alstec, provided the children with healthy snacks and also donated a "robosapien" to the school. Kenny Green, Alstec's safety advisor at Dounreay who accompanied Oscar to the school, said: "Alstec is delighted to be involved in community events such as these. Our visit to the school has enabled us to advise the pupils of the importance of hygiene and healthy eating in a fun way."

DOUNREAY WEARS IT PINK
Dounreay staff took part in the UK's biggest fund-raising event for breast cancer recently as part of national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Staff supported the initiative by wearing pink and setting up donation boxes around the site. Male employees also did their bit, with one senior member of staff even donning pink nail varnish and lipstick. Dounreay so far has raised nearly £500.

APPRENTICES' SPONSORED WALK HELPS LOCAL CHARITIES
Apprentices from UKAEA, Johnson Controls Ltd and Nukem Ltd, who completed their annual sponsored walk from the Dounreay site to Thurso in July, have netted local charities, schools and clubs a total of £2,200. Halkirk Primary School PTA, Pentland Canoe Club, Caithness Riding for the Disabled Association, Thurso Swimming Club and Round Table Make a Wish have all benefited from the apprentices' fund raising. The money was handed over to representatives of the various organisations on November 17.