Fears over nuclear leak
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by Karen Miles • Stricter rules are likely to be imposed on hauliers working in the nuclear industry following last week's scare over potential radioactive contamination of soft drinks.
Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth has asked his officials to examine whether hauliers used by the Scottish nuclear operators should be banned from using the same vehicles for other business.
Last month a tanker owned by Surrey-based Messer UK delivered carbon dioxide to Scottish Nuclear's Hunterston B before a radioactive leak was discovered there.
Tests have since quashed fears that contaminated CO2 might have been pumped back into the tanker but with no knowledge of any leak the vehicle went back to its Glasgow base for another load of CO, which it delivered to a number of drinks manufacturers.
Forsyth said the incident had concerned him. "No one should be using the same vehicles and equipment to make deliveries of carbon dioxide, or indeed any other supplies, to nuclear installations and also to other locations where there may in consequence be a risk to human health," he said. Any decision to impose extra controls on operators in Scotland would be watched closely by the Department of Transport.
Although there was no question of any contamination, Messer has decided to dedicate two vehicles to Scottish Nuclear "to allay any fears".
In the long run the German-owned company expects the nuclear operator to pay more for this arrangement,
E. Tests after the scare revealed slightly raised radioactivity in just one gas cylinder among many tested hut officials say there is no risk to health, even in this case.