The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served a fire enforcement notice after identifying “significant fire safety shortfalls” at the Hinkley Point C nuclear construction site.
The notice was served on Bylor – a joint venture of Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues Travaux Publics – which is delivering Hinkley Point C’s main civil engineering works.
According to an ONR statement, inspectors identified that Bylor had failed to implement appropriate arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of preventive and protective measures.
The ONR added that many of the Bylor buildings on the Somerset site are currently at an advanced stage of construction, and these shortfalls resulted in inadequate general fire precautions, including a lack of an adequate emergency lighting system.
The enforcement action has been served under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
While the regulator did not identify any consequences to employees, the public or the environment as a result of the “shortfalls”, it has highlighted the potential for harm and risk of serious injury.
Safety arrangements ‘did not meet standards’
Ray Cassar, ONR’s fire safety inspector, said: “Our inspectors found that fire safety arrangements at the Hinkley Point C site did not meet the standards we require, particularly given the scale and complexity of the ongoing construction work. We also took into account several similar findings from previous inspections.
“We will work with Bylor JV to ensure they put proper systems in place to manage fire risks effectively and prevent similar issues arising in future.”
Commenting on the enforcement notice, a spokesperson for Hinkley Point C said: “We are working closely with our main civils contractors, Bylor, to ensure that the appropriate enhancements are made to address the matters identified by the regulator.
“Safety is our overriding priority and we are already acting to oversee improvements.”
The ONR confirmed the improvements at the site must be completed by 30 June 2026.
