EDF prosecuted over worker’s injury at nuclear plant

EDF is being prosecuted by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) after a worker injured their foot at Dungeness B power station in Kent.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has levelled charges at both EDF and Trillium Flow Services for alleged health and safety breaches.

The charges relate to an incident on 13 June 2022 at Dungeness B power station, where a contractor sustained serious injuries to their foot while working in the vicinity of the main cooling water discharge valves.

The decision to begin legal proceedings follows an investigation into the incident by ONR, the UK’s independent nuclear regulator.

The first hearing is scheduled to take place at Folkestone Magistrates Court on 19 March, at 2pm.

This latest action by the ONR follows two improvement notices handed out to EDF in relation to incidents at its nuclear plants.

Under the first notice EDF was ordered to improve safety standards at its Dungeness B nuclear power station after a worker required hospital treatment following an electric shock.

The incident, which occurred last November, resulted in the worker suffering injuries which required a visit to hospital after suffering an electric shock from a portable heater while undertaking maintenance work at the Kent power plant.

The second notice was handed out after an incident at Heysham 1 Power Station in Lancashire.

The incident occurred on 23 December 2023 while Reactor 1 was being returned to service when a valve controlling the flow of superheated steam from the reactor failed, resulting in a steam leak.

Nobody was injured and the ONR said there was no risk to nuclear safety, the public or the environment.

However, ONR identified the potential for serious personal injury, if people had been present in the area near the valve.