Contractors warned over Hinkley Point C fire risks

Mechanical and electrical (M&E) contractors allowed combustible material to build up on a staircase serving an emergency exit at Hinkley Point C, according to the regulator.

Inspectors examining construction work at the nuclear site also found that no fire risk assessment was in place and an insufficient number of emergency exits were available for workers.

Five firms carrying out M&E work on the project have now been served with official warnings over significant safety shortfalls.

Mahtab Khan, the Office for Nucleur Regulation’s (ONR’s) head of regulation – EPR, said: “We will not hesitate to take enforcement action where safety standards fall short, and we expect all dutyholders to treat fire safety with the urgency it demands.

“Working alongside the principal contractor and MEH [mechanical, electrical and heating] alliance, we have made good progress in understanding the root causes of these shortfalls to ensure they are addressed.”

The ONR has served a fire enforcement notice on five firms in the MEH alliance, which is carrying out MEH work at the site.

Altrad Babcock, Altrad Services, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick, Cavendish Nuclear and NG have been put on notice to prevent a reoccurrence of the issues.

In a statement, the ONR said that the HF (electrical) building was inspected in December 2025 as part of a targeted inspection to assess MEH fire safety arrangements.

“ONR inspectors identified several significant shortfalls,” the ONR said, “including the absence of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, inadequate means of escape resulting in insufficient emergency exits being available for the numbers of people working in the building, and a significant accumulation of combustible materials within a staircase designated for use as an emergency exit route.”

There were no consequences to employees, the public or the environment as a result of the issues, the ONR said.

However, it said there was potential for harm and risk of serious injury, which required regulatory action.

The enforcement action requires the firms to ensure adequate arrangements are put in place to prevent a repeat.