Hunterston 'B' Power Station is ensuring a 'safe start' to 2017 with the use of virtual technology, as they celebrate eight and a half years without a lost time accident.

“Safe Start” is a campaign which takes place every January to re-focus personnel on safety procedures for the year ahead.

Parent company EDF Energy are working with Cape PLC to produce two virtual reality productions at the power plant during this month.

These productions will promote safe behaviour and remind personnel of potential outcomes when rules are not adhered to.

The programme ensures that all employees start the year as 'they continue to go on with zero harm at the forefront of our minds.' - say EDF.

The 'B' station again reported no Lost Time Incidents reported between the start of August and the end of October - a lost time incident is when a member of staff or a contractor injures themselves at work, and is absent from work for one day or more. It is a total of 3118 days since the last LTI.

EDF stated: "Throughout this period our excellent engagement and team work coupled with high standards of nuclear professionalism mean we have achieved a good safety performance."

Also in their quarterly report, presented to the site-stakeholders group, Hunterston 'B' reported three environmental incidents at the station, which they described as minor.

A few litres of fuel oil spilled into a concrete trench during works to replace some fuel oil pipe lines. The work team cleaned up the spillage promptly and the pipe work has been repaired, and the oil was contained.

An incorrect valve alignment was blamed for the spillage of some ammonia during the filling of a chemical tank. The ammonia was contained within a bund and cleaned up. The error is being investigated to identify the causes and prevent recurrence.

While the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was sampling the sewage system an elevated pH reading was detected in a discharge to the sea.

On investigation it was discovered that a pH meter had failed resulting in the discharge being overdosed.

The pH meter has been repaired and EDF are investigating the cause with the sewage plant operating company, and SEPA have written to the station requesting a probe investigate the failure of the sewage plant which is in progress.

In the EDF quarterly report, the company said: "There was no harm to the environment as a result of any of these events.

"Radioactive, gaseous and aqueous discharges arising from normal plant operations remain at levels well below those authorised by SEPA."