BNFL's top brass have sworn to deliver significant improvements in safety and management at their beleaguered Sellafield site.

Speaking at the launch of the company's response to two damning reports by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), chief executive, Norman Askew, pledged to deliver on all of the recommendations set out.

He said: "I will personally guarantee that each and every one of the HSE's recommendations are met in full and that whatever resources necessary to achieve this are made available.

"To do otherwise is not an option. We have already completed a number of them and there are deadlines against every one where we still have more work to do." BNFL claim they have already started strengthening the safety structure at the Cumbrian site. More than 70 new jobs have already been identified, but they say the review of staffing levels could result in more being created.

The HSE published two reports in February -- one concerning the Team Inspection of the control and supervision of operations and other an investigation in to the falsification of secondary quality data.

Mr Askew added: "During my first few weeks with BNFL I have found the Team Inspection report to be a very valuable document as it highlights a number of areas where we need to change.

"Although it is not saying that the Sellafield site is unsafe, it does point out significant areas for improvement in relation to the consistency of our operations and clarity of accountability for safety issues.

"In my view, safety and operational efficiency go hand in hand, so by implementing the HSE's recommendations we will not only create a safer Sellafield but also a better business."