THE regulator for Sellafield is 'pleased' with the response of operators of the nuclear power station after a worker sustained serious injuries.

The worker at the site suffered suffered serious injuries to his back following a fall from a scaffolding ladder in October of last year, while working on repairs to a leaking pipe within the Magnox reprocessing facility.

The worker was treated on site and then taken to a nearby hospital for more treatment.

In April, the Office for Nuclear Regulation issued an improvement notice on Sellafield Ltd, the site's operators, after shortcomings were found with their risk assessment procedures in the wake of the accident.

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An ONR spokesperson said: "Since the Improvement Notice was served, ONR has been pleased with the action taken by Sellafield Ltd to review their risk assessment arrangements, and to identify potential improvements to prevent any similar occurrences in future.

"The safety of workers and the public is ONR’s overriding priority, and we will have no hesitation in taking action to bring about improvements when shortfalls are identified.

"Since the Improvement Notice was served, Sellafield Ltd has reviewed its risk assessment arrangements to ensure those arrangements are suitable and sufficient for working in cells in the Magnox Reprocessing Facility.

"The review identified potential enhancements to site procedures and training, and potential improvements to the application of certain practices within the Magnox Reprocessing Facility.

"This was a conventional health and safety incident and not a nuclear related safety incident."

ONR’s investigation into the incident remains ongoing.