State-of-the-Art Glove Box Training Centre Opened at Sellafield

A state-of-the-art skills center for the UK nuclear industry has been opened at Sellafield (nuclear complex constructed near the Seascale on the Irish Sea coast). The facility has been delivered by the UK Alpha Resilience & Capability (ARC) programme.

The ARC programme is a partnership between government, nuclear operating companies, and the wider nuclear industry. It works to ensure the UK has the skills it needs to complete current and future missions related to special nuclear materials.

Glove boxes are crucial to operations on nuclear sites. They allow operators to handle hazardous material in a safe and controlled environment. It’s demanding work which requires high levels of skill and dexterity. New center will reduce the amount of training done within plants and provide a standardized approach across the sector.

Historically, glove box training was often provided within nuclear facilities themselves. That meant training tended to be bespoke and opportunities for standardization were lost. The new facility will provide a more standardized approach, offering detailed training in glove boxes configured to recreate any scenario imaginable. Lighting and temperature can also be controlled to replicate the conditions trainees will face in the workplace.

Kierra Desay, UK ARC Programme Manager, said that facility will provide a better experience for trainees and an improved service to the customers.