Legal action after forklift accident causes uranium oxide spill 

Chester, United Kingdom

The UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has announced it will prosecute two companies for health and safety offences following a uranium oxide leak after a forklift accident.

The prosecutions relate to an incident which occurred in February 2024 at the Tails Management Facility on the Urenco UK Ltd. nuclear licensed site in Capenhurst, near Chester.  

“A metal container holding almost 11 tonnes of uranium oxide powder fell from a forklift truck, striking surrounding equipment within the facility,” the regulatory body states.

“The impact resulted in a small amount of uranium oxide powder being released into the facility.   

“No workers were injured and there were no consequences for the public during this incident.”

Urenco ChemPlants Ltd, which operates as a tenant organisation on the Urenco UK Ltd. licensed site, is one of the two companies now facing prosecution over the incident.

The other is a contractor on the site, Babcock Critical Services Ltd.

“The decision to begin legal proceedings follows an investigation by ONR, the UK’s independent nuclear regulator,” the body states. 

MLA scholarship winner named 

Houston, TX, United States

A Texas high school student has been named the winner of the Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas (MLA) 22nd annual Cat Lift Truck Scholarship Program valued at USD5,000.

Isha Sahnan from Oak Ridge High School in Texas, plans to pursue a degree in computer science where she intends to apply her passion for technology to help address real-world problems and give back to her community. 

Her extensive commitment to community service includes volunteering and helping plan local events. A natural leader, she has founded and organised the summer STEM Camp at her local intermediate school for middle school students, designing its layout and developing activities focused on coding, robotics, and engineering. 

She also serves as president of both the Oak Ridge High School Student Council and the Interact Club, among her other activities.

MLA recently surprised Sahnan at her school to present her with the USD5,000 cheque.

“With this scholarship, I'll be able to not only dedicate myself to my studies, which will help turn my ideas into impactful solutions, but will also be able to help relieve financial pressure for my family and enable me to support and provide for my parents in the future,” says Sahnan.

Easy Grip forklift seat released

Zaltbommel, Netherlands

Netherlands-based Trône Seating, has released its new forklift seat which has a 3-point Easy Grip safety belt similar to a car seatbelt, and which features seven electric seat adjustments for optimal ergonomics.

The company says the new electric powered and air-suspended seat “sets a new standard in safety and ergonomics” for forklift seats.

The Easy-Grip safety belt features a special flexi should guide for greater freedom of movement and personal seat memory for different drivers.

“The Trône Easy-Grip safety belt is easy to reach and use, just like in a car,” Trône states. “This makes wearing the seat belt more natural and comfortable, significantly improving safety for forklift drivers.”