Worker falls from scaffolding on Hinkley Point

Over 300 scaffolders working at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station have initiated unofficial strike action, voicing their concerns about pay rates and shift patterns at the site. 
Image credit: EDF Energy
Advertisement

Safety Notices have been issued after a scaffold worker fell from scaffolding on the huge Hinkley Point C site under construction in Somerset.

The incident happened on 4 March when a scaffold worker fell approximately five metres but avoided serious injury.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) found a failure to ensure the work was properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out safely.

It has now served Improvement notices to contractors working at the site.

The improvement notices were served on Tuesday this week to Bouygues Travaux Publics SAS and Laing O’Rourke Construction Limited, the joint venture partners in BYLOR JV, which is working on the under-construction EDF site.

The ONR established there was a failure by BYLOR to ensure that the work was properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a manner which was safe, so far as reasonably practicable.

Inspector John McKenniff said: “Thankfully on this occasion the worker did not sustain any serious injuries, but it could have been much more serious.

“We have issued this Improvement notice to ensure that both organisations take action to prevent any similar occurrences in the future.

“We will monitor the actions of BYLOR JV and will have no hesitation in taking action if further shortfalls are identified.”

A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C said: “We accept the findings of the regulator and have ensured that the shortfalls identified are addressed in order to avoid a repeat of such an incident.

“The safety of people working on our site is of paramount importance and we will continue to take action, alongside our contractor and trades union partners, in order to reinforce and improve our already strong safety culture and record.”

Advertisement