The Compensation Scheme for Radiation-Linked Diseases (CSRLD) is a joint initiative between the UK’s nuclear-sector employers and their trades’ unions.

The Scheme has been in existence for 27 years and the participating employers have expanded since its inception to include: Sellafield Ltd. Springfields Fuels Ltd. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) Urenco (Capenhurst Ltd), British Energy Generation Ltd, Magnox North Ltd, Magnox South Ltd, the Ministry of Defence, AWE plc (Atomic Weapons Establishment), Babcock Marine ( Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd), Babcock Marine (Rosyth Royal Dockyard) Ltd, Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd, GE Healthcare, Low Level Waste Repository (Drigg) and other related specified companies.

The participating trades unions are the Civil Nuclear Police Federation, the FDA, GMB Union, Public and Commercial Services Union, Prospect, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, UNITE and UNISON.

Information about CSRLD is available to interested parties via the internet. The Scheme’s website (www.csrld.org.uk) is designed primarily to provide relevant guidance to potential claimants but also provides contact information for those seeking further information. Over the past year the site has continued to receive many regular visits, and has provided the means to initiate a number of claims.

The Compensation Scheme is designed to provide an alternative to legal action for past and present employees of the above companies who have been exposed to radiation during their work and who are subsequently diagnosed to be suffering from cancer or cataracts.

Cases which can be considered under the Scheme are assessed by the application of technical criteria jointly agreed between management and trades unions. The applied criteria are more generous to the claimant than those likely to be used for a legal action. CSRLD contains further generosity in that it awards payments for cases with a causation probability of 20% or above, whereas in a court case a claimant must prove a causation probability of 50% where an ‘all or nothing’ approach based on the balance of probabilities would then be applied.

CSRLD is committed to employ the most up to date and best science available as it is on this technical basis that claims are assessed. Following detailed consideration CSRLD has adapted its technical basis to adopt the very latest scientific knowledge available from the US National Research Council BEIRVII Report and supportive data from the UNSCEAR report published in 2009. These reports constitute a major review of the health effects of ionising radiation.

CSRLD has applied the new technical basis and new Compensation Scheme schedules to new claims arising from the 1st of January 2009. It is undertaking a retrospection exercise to consider previous claims in the light of the new available science and new CSRLD schedules. It is expected that some payments to past claimants will be made.

There continues to be major changes in the infrastructure and shape of the nuclear industry and the nuclear-sector employers operating environment. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority are fully supportive of the Compensation Scheme and have continued to make it a condition of contract that any new Site Licensed Company must apply for CSRLD membership This can only strengthen the Scheme and provide greater coverage of the nuclear-sector employees.

The Scheme received 50 new cases during 2009 with 5 compensation settlements being made this year. There have been 1500 cases in total since the Scheme began and compensation totalling £6.8 million paid to claimants in respect of 122 successful claims.

During 2009 CSRLD continued to co-operate with the Redfern Inquiry into human tissue analysis in UK nuclear facilities. The outcome of the Inquiry is still awaited.

An internal review of the Scheme was undertaken in 2009. This was discussed by the Council in December and will be the subject of further consideration.

CSRLD continues to effectively serve its claimants and the United Kingdom nuclear sector employers.

For further information please contact:-
Tom Bain
Compensation Scheme Executive Secretary
British Nuclear Group Sellafield
Seascale
Cumbria CA 20 1 PG Tel 019467 74716

30 November 2009