Swedish nuclear power plant staff intoxicated at work
Secret report highlights security problems at Forsmark
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Serious shortcomings have been found in the security situation at Sweden’s Forsmark nuclear power plant, located north of Stockholm.
According to an internal report that had been kept secret for several months, several accidents have taken place, and some of the staff at the plant have been coming to work under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.
The number-one reactor at the plant had to be shut down in the summer in a situation that has been described as one of the most serious ever to take place in a Swedish nuclear facility. According to the internal report, the situation was not caused by technical problems alone, but rather a "long-standing weakening of the security culture".
The contents of the confidential report were made public on Monday by the Swedish television news.
Technicians at Forsmark have said that constant compromises have been made on safety, and risks have been taken under pressure for greater productivity. Three out of 380 of the plant’s workers tested positive for illegal drugs last summer, and three others out of 25 failed alcohol breath tests.
During refurbishing work implemented last year, there were 22 accidents and 68 close calls. Several of them could have led to fatalities.
Technicians were critical of the tendency at Forsmark to ignore problems, such as leaky valves.
Helsingin Sanomat
