Latest News
ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 14001:2004, BS OSHAS 18001:2007 and TickIT Assessment - December 2009
I am pleased to announce that we have completed a successful assessment to the above standards by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA). The assessment was carried out over a three day period by Courtland Bresner and his team of Senior Management Systems Assessors.
NIRAS Christmas opening
Please note that the laboratory will be closed from midday Thursday 24th December 2009 until Monday 4th January 2010
If samples are undergoing analysis, or you are thinking of sending samples during this time of year please contact your Programme Manager for an estimated report date or:
Sonia Pratley on 01925 675636 or sonia.pratley@amec.com
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year
NIRAS Celebrates 10 Years of Operations
AMEC’s NIRAS laboratory which provides radiochemical analysis services is celebrating 10 years of operations. The business started with six staff and some basic equipment and has now grown to be one of the largest commercial radiochemical facilities in the UK. We now conduct radiochemical analysis for a wide range of clients including nuclear operators, decommissioning contractors, contaminated land consultants, local authorities, defence establishments and the oil and gas industry. Our services are a critical component in achieving the UK nuclear decommissioning programme as we analyse samples from all UK decommissioning sites.
From conception we have always put high quality as our central principle and we are proud of our record for producing high quality results that clients can have confidence in and rely on. We have an open book quality policy where we welcome external auditing to show off the skills of our staff and our systems.
As we have grown we have continued to invest in the latest laboratory equipment, facilities and systems to improve the service to our clients. We can now handle activity levels ranging from free release to intermediate level wastes.
As our portfolio of work has expanded we have
spread best practice across our clients and we
believe our clients benefit from our wide experience.
We have begun the next phase of NIRAS evolution
by linking more closely with our AMEC colleagues to
provide additional skills and services to our clients
such as radioactive site sampling teams, bespoke
sampling tool manufacture, physical testing, waste
management and radiological services. This enables
AMEC to provide a complete sampling, analysis,
characterisation and advice service.
Thanks for all the support from our clients over
the last 10 years.
Published 22.10.09
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Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire Results
It is one of NIRAS's aims to provide a quality of service that meets the requirements of our customers. As such, feedback from our customers is always appreciated.
One of our approaches to proactively obtain feedback is through the use of customer satisfaction questionnaires. Completed questionnaires are reviewed and where appropriate, these are followed-up with the customer. The feedback provided for 2008 is summarized in the chart below. We would like to thank all customers who have provided feedback to the laboratory, either via customer satisfaction questionnaires or by other means.
Published 19.02.09
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5th International Conference on Effects of Low Dose Radiation: The Future for Radiation Protection
We will be presenting a poster and sponsoring the "5th International Conference on Effects of Low Dose Radiation: 'The Future for Radiation Protection" at The Thinktank, Birmingham on 3rd -5th February 2009.
An understanding of the effects of low doses of ionising radiation is critical to formulating protection criteria for the public, workers and the environment.
Key new ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) recommendations on a system for radiological protection will impact on the Euratom Basic Safety Standards, guidance from IAEA and ultimately on regulatory systems worldwide, with consequent implications for the development of nuclear power. Control of radioactive materials at all activity levels will be crucial to maintaining confidence in protection from artificial sources.
For more information please click www.ldr09.com for the conference website
Published 22.01.09
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Laboratory shutdown over the Christmas Holiday, 2008
IMPORTANT
The laboratory will be closed from Wednesday 24th December until Monday 5th January.
For more information please click here.
Published 15.12.08
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Laboratory Services Newsletter
Our latest newsletter aims to give an insight into our current activities and show the vibrancy within our business.
Published 11.09.08
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Recognising NIRAS
Within Laboratory Services, the adjacencies that are offered by the respective consultancy business groups of Technology Services and the NIRAS laboratories are increasingly recognised by our clients. Recent examples include providing sampling technicians and producing risk assessments and method statements for a reactor site to enable material to be sampled and analysed at NIRAS.
This allows the client to re-instate a disposal route previously embargoed by the regulator. The manufacturing skills of the Development and Test Services team have been called on by another client, who whilst performing sampling themselves require the manufacture of both generic and site specific sampling tools. AMEC were selected by this Client through demonstrating their sampling pedigree across the 22 sites of the UK nuclear fleet in recent years. The Client also wishes to draw upon AMECs experience and utilise our facilities through Laboratory Services providing training in the use of these tools on full scale mock ups of plant at the General Engineering Laboratory in Birchwood.
Published 11.03.08
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Laboratory shutdown over the Christmas Holiday
IMPORTANT
The laboratory will be closed from Friday 21st December until Wednesday 2nd January.
For more information please click here.
Published 23.11.07
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Water Contamination Emergencies: Collective Responsibility
We will be presenting a paper and exhibiting at the Water Contamination Emergencies: Collective Responsibility conference at The Royal Society of Medicine, London on 7th-8th April 2008.
"Water Contamination Emergencies: Collective Responsibility", seeks to encourage global sharing of any lessons learnt and collaborative research leading to the adoption of best practice.
This conference will deal with preparedness and possible chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.
For more information please click here for the Water Contamination Emergencies: Collective Responsibility website.
Published 23.11.07
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Change of Name
With effect of 3 September 2007 AMEC NNC Limited changed its name to AMEC Nuclear UK Limited. As such NIRAS is now a trading name of the new AMEC Nuclear UK Limited.
A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name is available on request from sonia.jarvis@amec..com, and we would ask you to update your records. No other action is necessary as the contracting party remains unchanged.
We look forward to working with you under our new name.
Published 03.09.07
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