The Chernobyl accident and its implications for operators of civil nuclear power plant in the UK

The causes of the accident at the Chernobyl reactor on 26 April 1986 are first identified. In particular, the design features responsible for the accident are noted. A list of the violations of safety rules and the consequences of the violations is drawn up. The lack of understanding on the part of the reactor operators as to how the plant operated is mentioned. The questions of why this mismanagement of the plant by the operators was possible and why it led to catastrophe are then considered. Aspects of plant design -specific design features and design safety principles are discussed. The lessons to be learned from the Chernobyl accident so far as the UK plant operators are concerned are discussed. (UK)