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Changes to the Sounding of the Sellafield Emergency Siren
FROM 1st MAY 2008 the arrangements for sounding the site emergency siren will change. For many years the arrangements have been that the site siren would only be sounded when a Sellafield emergency has occurred. This is an incident on site that has or is likely to affect members of the public off site. It is the most serious incident on the site and would require members of the public in the vicinity to take urgent action to protect themselves.
However from 1st May, the siren will also be sounded at site incident in order to improve the protection of the workforce. This is a lower category of emergency which does not require any immediate action from the public.
The result of this change means that in future, in the unlikely event of the siren being sounded, people living near the site upon hearing the siren will need to find out if they are required to take any immediate action to protect themselves. To do this Cumbria County Council and Sellafield Ltd have put a number of things in place.
Sellafield Emergency Information Line
This is a freephone number which will give real time information concerning the situation at the site. It can be rung at anytime and will explain why the siren has been sounded. The number is 0808 909 8090
Cumbria Alert Website
In the event of a sounding of the siren, this website will give details of why it has been sounded and what if any action needs to be taken. The website is www.cumbriaalert.info
Local Radio
BBC Radio Cumbria and CFM will broadcast information following any sounding of the siren.
Telephone Warning System
Those residents who live close to the site and who are included on the Sellafield Telephone Warning System will continue to be rung should an emergency occur.
The ‘What to Do In An Emergency at Sellafield’ householders leaflet, which is issued to all properties in a 6km radius of site has also been updated to reflect the changes and is being sent out prior to 1st May.
