Upon winning a major contract to build a new Plutonium storage plant at British Nuclear Group’s (BNG) Sellafield site, Carillion PLC needed to source a site security system that would stand up to the harsh environmental conditions whilst offering a level of security fit for a nuclear licensed site.

The Brief :
In order to satisfy the stringent requirements of both Carillion and BNG, the chosen solution had to cater for several prerequisites including biometric verification, Photo ID badge printing and capture of specific cardholder information such as safety qualifications and next of kin details. The system also had to track and monitor attendance across multiple zones, providing instant muster reports for safe emergency evacuation. BNFL site rules stipulate that all personnel must be accounted for within 20 minutes of the announcement of a site emergency.

The Solution :
Carillion appointed Human Recognition Systems, whom identified a combined card and hand geometry biometric solution to satisfy the long list of requirements. The system consists of six biometrically controlled turnstiles which control access to the welfare area of the site and four more card controlled turnstiles which control access to the site itself. Card readers on a remote site, one mile away, are also used to clock cardholders in and out over a modem connection.

Hand geometry readers from Ingersoll Rand Security Technology were chosen for the site. Well proven in the fields of both construction and nuclear energy, hand geometry recognition is highly robust, user friendly and operates well in all environmental conditions, unaffected by dirt on the hands or poor lighting conditions.

For additional security, a single access control and biometric database was used so that cardholders’ biometric templates never need be stored in a separate database or at each biometric reader point. Templates are only sent to a reader ‘upon request’ further bolstering security and protecting the individual’s privacy.

Carillion management staff can now quickly report on how many people are currently in any area or zone of the site, providing BNFL with the information they need and complying with industry regulations. Custom reports also provide time and attendance reports for effective subcontractor time keeping.

As required, the system allows for the input of important cardholder details, such as their CSCS qualifications, and also allows accounts to be automatically terminated upon the expiry of these qualifications. Any of the details captured can also be automatically printed onto the card for onsite spot checks, ensuring that personnel are qualified for the operations they are carrying out.