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Glovebox modification suggestion earns Sellafield worker a national prize
Sellafield worker, Tony Briscoe, a mechanical fitter in the Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP), has won a national award at the ‘IdeasUK’ annual conference for his modification suggestion to a glovebox which has saved the company in excess of £100,000. Tony won the award for ‘best suggestion in the private sector’ at the awards ceremony which took place at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Chester.
A glovebox is a contained unit in which the worker places his/her hands inside using special fixed gloves. Gloveboxes are designed to protect the workforce and to prevent materials from escaping out. Within SMP, MOX fuel is manufactured in a series of gloveboxes.
Tony’s suggestion was to modify the glove port tool which reduced the number of times it had to be replaced – which, as a result, has significantly cut costs. From there, the modification was rolled out to other operating units across the site and eventually taken to patented suppliers in America who have modified the design of the tool and now supply it to a world wide market.
Speaking about his award, Tony said: “The event was an international competition, and as a finalist, I was honoured to attend and represent Sellafield Ltd. It was a once in a life time experience for me, but also an achievement for the company - given that I was the first finalist that Sellafield Ltd has ever had in the 20 years that the awards have been running.
“I would like to thank everyone who helped me throughout the process, from submitting the suggestion to the reward I received. I am most grateful.”
Suggestion Scheme Manager, John Kane added: “Unlocking the innovation of our workforce is crucial to the future success of our business; the Suggestion Scheme is a key driver in helping unlock the full potential of our excellent workforce.”
Head of SMP, Martin Leafe, also congratulated Tony: “To win a national award is superb. This is a significant achievement for Tony and for the Sellafield site. This shows just what we can deliver when we start to think a bit differently. The Suggestion Scheme is there to encourage innovative ideas and reward those who create them. Clearly, this is an excellent example of a suggestion that has been submitted, resulting in both a financial reward and the awarding of a national prize. Well done Tony.”
