Introduction

Britain’s homes and industries need fuel. Many fuel sources are drying up. These include coal, gas and oil. Fuel for the future needs to be clean and safe. It should also be renewable. Britain is looking at using more nuclear power. Old or out of date power station sites need to be made safe. The NDA is the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. This is the public sector body whose job is to make sure that old sites are cleaned up and safe. The NDA owns a number of nuclear power stations. Its mission is to solve problems of managing nuclear waste. It looks for ways that are safe, secure and acceptable to society. These solutions should also give value for money and be appropriate for all stakeholders.

Stakeholders

Stakeholders are any group with an interest in the NDA’s work. These include bodies such as the government and regulators. Stakeholders also include people, such as employees, suppliers and communities. When a nuclear site is closed, it needs to be made safe. The land needs to be returned to its former state. NDA works within a framework of UK and EU laws. It has to take special notice of the 2004 Energy Act. This makes health and safety the number one aim for the NDA.

Health and Safety (H&S)

H&S laws affect NDA in many ways. These include:

• The Nuclear Installations Act. This is the basis of all NDA’s work.
• Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974. This lays down the safe conditions that a business must provide for its people. It also says that staff must work in safe ways.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, 1999. This Act outlines how dangerous substances must be handled.
• Factories Act, 1961. This sets out details of safe and acceptable working conditions.
• Fire Precautions Act, 1971. This covers fire safety, including equipment, checks and drills.
• Working Time Directive, 1999. This Act limits the hours that people can work.

The NDA knows that H&S laws are vital. In the nuclear industry, any accident could be far-reaching due to the nature of nuclear materials. The NDA takes the regulations very seriously. It is probably one of the safest places to work because of this.

Labour law

According to The Energy Act, the NDA must have a workforce with the right skills. The NDA has written Skills Action Plans. These aim to make sure that enough people get training to give them the right skills to carry out this work. The NDA also exceeds the requirements of Acts covering equal pay and discrimination.

Business benefits

A business gains from looking after its workforce. Staff are less likely to take time off sick. They are also more motivated – more willing to work. The local communities where the NDA works have confidence in its safety record. They see NDA as a good local partner.

Conclusion

The UK has been making nuclear power for a long time. Old or out of date power stations now need closing and cleaning. The NDA operates the highest levels of health and safety. It is a world leader in safe and secure practice.