Supervisors at New Brunswick's Point Lepreau nuclear power plant did not have adequate training on a piece of test equipment when there was a spill of 300 litres of radioactive heavy water in May.
Paul Thompson, NB Power's manager of regulatory affairs at Point Lepreau, says while staff were sent to the manufacturer for some training, there was a problem with the actual procedure and supervisors could not provide guidance during the test.
Thompson told a meeting of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission today in Chibougamau, Que., that procedures for other tests have been reviewed to ensure the problem does not happen again.
The heavy water leaked when a test equipment relief valve opened prematurely while staff were pressure testing the heat transfer system.
The water was recovered for reuse and there was no risk to workers, the public or the environment.
Point Lepreau has been out of service since March 2008 for a major refurbishment that's meant to extend the life of the reactor by 25 years.
