ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT BURGHFIELD EMERGENCY SHELTERING PLAN
HARTLEY COURT FARM THREE MILE CROSS READING BERKSHIRE RG7 1NH
1 KLPB/Draft Rev/12th May 2020
CONTENTS
1. 0 Background
1.1 Version Control
1.2 Record Of Amendments
1.3 Plan Distribution
1.4 Plan Activation And/Or Exercise Record
2. 0 The Emergency Sheltering Plan Leader
3. 0 Accident Scenario
4. 0 Notification Of Incident At The AWE Site
5. 0 Action Needed If An Incident Occurs
6. 0 Local Radio Stations For Information
7. 0 Local TV Stations For Information
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 Plan Of Site And Surrounding Area
Appendix 2 Copy Of REPPIR Leaflet
2 KLPB/Draft Rev/12th May 2020
1.0 Background
This plan provides for contingency arrangements in the event of a radiation emergency at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) site at Burghfield. Work undertaken at AWE covers the entire life cycle of nuclear warheads from initial concept, assessment and design, through to manufacture and assembly, in-service support, decommissioning and disposal. The site handles radioactive materials, explosives and hazardous chemicals. As the Local Authority in which the AWE sites are situated, West Berkshire has a duty under the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR) to set out the contingency arrangements for a multi-agency response should a release of radioactive material at an AWE site pose a hazard to the public outside the site boundary. This Emergency Sheltering Plan is designed to give guidance to the small business users at Hartley Court Farm, Three Mile Cross, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 1NH.
1.1 Version Control
Issue Date 12/05/2020
Version 1
Author Kevin Burree
Signed
Review Date 12/05/2021
1.2 Record of Amendments
A record of changes made to the plan are listed below.
Date Changes Made Author
3 KLPB/Draft Rev/12th May 2020 1.3 Plan Distribution
A schedule of the people and their location that hold copies of the plan are listed below.
Name Address Contact number / email Date issued
James Hewison Hartley Court Farm, tbc tbc (Emergency Hartley Court Road, Sheltering Plan There Mile Cross, Leader and Site Reading, Berkshire RG7 Controller) 1NH Tenant 1 Unit 1 – address as above tbc tbc Tenant 2 Unit 3– address as above tbc tbc Tenant 3 Unit 4– address as above tbc tbc Tenant 4 Unit 5– address as above tbc tbc Tenant 5 Unit 6– address as above tbc tbc
1.4 Plan Activation And/Or Exercise Record
Details of the plan activation and/or the exercise record are listed below.
Date Details of Activation/Exercise Record
4 KLPB/Draft Rev/12th May 2020
2.0 The Emergency Sheltering Plan Leader
This plan is prepared by Mr James Hewison, the occupier and Site Controller of Hartley Court Farm. All tenants are to hold a copy of this Emergency Sheltering Plan together with the REPPIR Leaflet in all business premises. During an emergency the Site Controller will be responsible for:
a. Acting as a focal point for the site in the response to an emergency.
b. Identifying any occupiers on the premises who may have become vulnerable (e.g. in need of additional assistance) as a result of an incident.
c. Checking all tenants during and after incident via telephone/email.
d. Responsible for updating the Emergency Sheltering Plan if necessary.
3.0 Accident Scenario
During an accident a pathway occurs that allows radioactive material to escape uncontrolled into the environment. The radioactive materials plutonium, uranium, and tritium are handled at AWE sites. The Preliminary Safety Report for the AWE Enriched Uranium Project (17th March 2006) defines a design basis accident of a large fire caused by an aircraft crash involving most of the radioactive inventory held in the building. Such an event might serve as a worst case scenario.
4.0 Notification Of An Incident At The AWE Site
Notification will be by one or more of the following methods:
Telephone – The telephone alerting system may phone with a pre-recorded message advising what action to take. (This system only works with standard ‘landline’ telephones and not with mobile phones).
Via the Media – There may be an alert on local radio stations, the television or internet.
Sirens – As the property is close to the AWE the site alarm signals may be heard relatively frequently. These should not be reacted to as they are often sounded for testing as part of the routine emergency response exercise program. In the event of a REAL incident the site emergency signal at both AWE sites (Burghfield and Aldermaston) is a repeating descending tone.
5 KLPB/Draft Rev/12th May 2020 5.0 Action Needed If An Incident Occurs
If the alarm is raised the following actions should be taken by all persons on site:
1. Following a radiation emergency, the initial response should be to go indoors, unless directed otherwise by the emergency services.
2. Shut all windows and doors.
3. Turn off any ventilation systems which can suck in contaminants.
4. If you believe you have been contaminated remove outer clothing and wash hands and face or shower if possible. Once removed any clothes should be bagged.
5. You should stay indoors and tune in to a local radio or television station for further instructions and updates. Do not drive or travel home and stay in your business premises until the all clear is given. Next of kin and immediate family not at residence at the time should be contacted and informed to stay away.
6. If there is a necessity to clear the area, you will be informed and removed from site by the police or other official worker.d TV stations to tune
6.0 Local Radio Stations For Information:
Heart Berkshire 97.0 and 102.9 MHz FM
BBC Radio Berkshire 95.4 and 104.1 MHz FM
The Breeze Reading 107 MHz FM
The Breeze (Basingstoke and North Hampshire) 107.6 MHz FM
The Breeze (Newbury) 105.6 and 107.4 MHz FM
BBC Radio Solent (Hampshire) 96.1 and 103.8 MHz FM
7.0 Local TV Stations For Information:
BBC South
ITV Meridian
6 KLPB/Draft Rev/12th May 2020