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Ill Health of Workers at HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane)

Date released
3 September 2020
Request number

202008026

Release of information under
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

Information requested

During the past 55 years how many radiation workers have claimed ill health due to working on the nuclear submarines at HM, Naval Base, clyde, Faslane?

Information released

We have conducted a thorough search of our document systems and we can confirm that under s.1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, ONR does not hold information relevant to your request.

It may be helpful for us to explain why we do not hold this information.

Duty-holders are not required to provide us with details of specific worker classifications (i.e. radiation workers), or their associated medical histories. This information would be held by the employer and relevant approved dosimetry service. As such we are unable to distinguish reports of ill-health between radiation and non-radiation workers on the site.

Despite this limitation, we have reviewed all instances of ill-health reported to us by HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane) under the Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013. RIDDOR 2013 requires the reporting of reportable diseases as specified below:

  • carpal tunnel syndrome;
  • severe cramp of the hand or forearm;
  • occupational dermatitis;
  • hand-arm vibration syndrome;
  • occupational asthma;
  • tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm;
  • any occupational cancer;
  • any disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent.

Since 2014 we have received no reports of ill-health from HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane) relating to any of the above criteria.

ONR is the enforcing authority for the Authorised parts of the HM Naval Base, however the majority of the site continues to be regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Any reportable instances prior to 2014, or that relate to activities off the authorised parts of the site would be reported to the HSE. On this basis, you may wish to address your request to one or both of the following:

HM Naval Base Clyde
Faslane,
Helensburgh
G84 0EH

Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle, Merseyside
L20 7HW

Exemptions applied

N/A

PIT (Public Interest Test) if applicable

N/A