Annual Statement

The Compensation Scheme for Radiation Linked Diseases (CSRLD) is a joint initiative between the UK's nuclear-sector employers and their trade unions.  The Scheme is designed to provide an alternative to legal action for past and present employees of participating employers who have been exposed to radiation during their work and who are subsequently diagnosed to be suffering from cancer or cataracts.  It has had a successful year and is continuing to process cases.

The scheme has now been operating for over 40 years having been in existence since 1982. The participating employers have expanded since its inception to include: Sellafield Ltd, Springfields Fuels Ltd, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, URENCO UK Ltd, Urenco Chem Plants, URENCO Nuclear Stewardship, EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd, the Ministry of Defence, AWE plc, Babcock Marine (Devonport Royal Dockyard) Ltd, Babcock Marine (Rosyth Royal Dockyard) Ltd, Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd, GE HealthCare Ltd, INUTEC, Nuclear Waste Services and Nuclear Restoration Services and other related Specified Companies.

The nuclear-sector employers, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are fully supportive of the Compensation Scheme which provides nearly complete coverage of the UK nuclear industry employees.

The participating trade unions and staff associations are the Civil Nuclear Police Federation, the FDA, GMB, Prospect, UNITE (incl Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians), UNISON and the Defence Police Federation.

Cases which can be considered under the scheme are assessed by the application of technical criteria jointly agreed between management and trade unions. The applied criteria are more generous to the claimant than those likely to be used for a legal action. The CSRLD contains further generosity in that it awards payments for cases with a causation probability of 20% or above. In a court case a claimant must prove a causation probability of 50% where an ‘all or nothing’ approach based on the balance of probabilities is applied.

In line with a commitment to ensure that the scheme reflects the latest scientific and technical knowledge, new schedules were implemented in 2009 based on the findings of the BEIR Vll and UNSCEAR reports of 2006. (Changes in science can result in increases or decreases in causation probability). At this time the reports of 2009 continue to present the best available basis for the Scheme’s assessment methodology. The Scheme’s Technical Working Party continues to maintain a watching brief on technical developments with the last meeting held in April 2025.  They are considering the implementation of new ICRP models on internal dose.

A review of the arrangements to maintain Scheme capability was undertaken last year and the recommendations to be considered are being worked on this year.

23 new claims were received in 2024/25 financial year.

During this reporting period, no claims were successful.

There have been 1823 cases considered/received since the Scheme began. 202 of these cases have resulted in successful claims. 

Information about CSRLD is available to interested parties via our website www.csrld.org.uk.  The website is designed primarily to provide relevant guidance to potential claimants (and others acting on their behalf) but also provides contact information for those seeking further information.

For further information please contact:-

The Compensation Scheme Executive Secretariat

Sellafield Ltd.

Seascale

Cumbria CA20 1PG

Tel 019467 74716

June 2025