Better equipping nuclear decommissioning personnel working in demanding environments

Many nuclear decommissioning tasks take place within complex legacy facilities where remote methods are not always practicable. Some activities require operators to enter contaminated areas and undertake manual work demanding high levels of dexterity. Operators must wear restrictive personal protective equipment (PPE), which may include respirators, hoods, double gloves, PVC garments and air-fed suits. While essential for protection, these arrangements can make work hot, tiring and physically awkward.

Sellafield Ltd is seeking product-based innovations to complement existing protective equipment and better support operators in contaminated environments. Improvements could enhance safety and comfort, increase productive working time, and enable faster, more efficient decommissioning.

Challenge Aims

The aim of the challenge is to make operator-led decommissioning safer, more comfortable and more effective. Solutions may improve the operator’s working experience, reduce fatigue, extend effective working time, improve task performance, provide better information, simplify decontamination or reduce the number of entries required.

The outcomes below are not exhaustive; proposals may address one or more of them, or another clearly evidenced operator need:

• Reducing thermal burden, heat stress, moisture or discomfort.
• Improving communication and reliable information exchange between the operator and supporting personnel.
• Making decontamination and changeover safer, quicker and easier.
• Improving ergonomics, movement, visibility, dexterity, strength or the usability of task-specific tools and controls.
• Monitoring the operator or local environment and providing clear, timely warnings or status information.
• Reducing the amount of single-use equipment and secondary waste or enabling safe reuse where appropriate.

Any proposed product will need to fit around existing protective arrangements and operating practices. Any hazards introduced by the product must be identified and capable of being managed. The product must not impair the performance of the suit or air supply, or make the operator’s task more difficult.

Ready-to-deploy or modified commercial off-the-shelf products are of particular interest because earlier implementation would be beneficial. However, Sellafield Ltd is willing to support promising products that need further development or adaptation for nuclear use. An implementation route within approximately 1 to 2 years would be advantageous.

Partial solutions that address a single issue are welcome. Applicants are not expected to produce a single integrated system covering every theme.

Find Out More

Please download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.

You can watch a webinar and Q&A session with the challenge owners for more information and details of how to apply.

The deadline for applications for this challenge is 3pm (GMT) on Wednesday 25th November 2026.

Assessment of Applications

Applications are reviewed against set criteria by a panel of challenge owners, prospective end‐users from our partner organisations, and Game Changers project staff. Brief summary feedback will be provided if your project is not awarded feasibility funding.

Application forms and posters will be assessed consistently and transparently using the following criteria:

1. How well does the application align with the challenge aims?
2. Is the proposed solution credible from the perspective of deployment?
3. What potential does the proposed solution have to transform practice in your area?
4. Do you feel the applicant is well placed to deliver a feasibility project?
5. Would the solution proposed in the application benefit from feasibility funding?
6. Does the application meet the scope of the challenge?