BAE Systems fire poses serious questions over nuclear oversight

The fire at BAE Systems nuclear submarine shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness which hospitalised two people, has drawn swift criticism from one University of Bradford academic.

Dr Becky Alexis-Martin, who is due to speak at the United Nations in February about the risks of nuclear proliferation, said: “For an industry that receives billions of pounds in public money, this isn’t good enough. There may not be a nuclear risk, but the incident calls into question the adequacy of quality assurance and control and risk management systems. 

“This is not the first accident on site. A freedom of information request from 2020 revealed 54 health and safety incidents between 2015 and 2020. We need to reconsider how we embed safety practices in a sector that has historically been lax.” 

Dr Alexis-Martin, form the University’s Department of Peace Studies and International Relations, is an expert on the nuclear arms industry. In November 2023, she addressed the UN’s Second Meeting of Member States Parties for the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, specifically commenting on the effects of nuclear testing on people living in Pacific islands. 

Over and above the safety concerns of this incident, the bigger, more important question, is why we are spending billions of pounds on a technology that is, in effect, redundant.

She added: “Over and above the safety concerns of this incident, the bigger, more important question, is why we are spending billions of pounds on a technology that is, in effect, redundant. If we were ever to use nuclear weapons, the likelihood of anyone surviving is minimal. At a time when the public purse strings are stretched, I think it’s only right that people ask whether our so-called nuclear deterrent is actually worth the money, especially if we keep having incidents like this. 

“There are also serious questions for the Office of Nuclear Regulation, which regulates the nuclear industry. People deserve answers and I would expect our Members of Parliament to take this matter seriously.”