A fire enforcement notice has been issued to Bylor JV, the contractor responsible for major civil engineering works at Hinkley Point C, following the identification of serious fire safety shortcomings at the nuclear power station construction site in Somerset.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) carried out a focused inspection and found that Bylor JV— a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues Travaux Publics—had failed to establish adequate arrangements for planning, organising, controlling, monitoring, and reviewing preventive and protective fire safety measures.
Many buildings on the site have reached advanced construction stages, yet the inspection revealed insufficient general fire precautions, including the absence of an appropriate emergency lighting system. These deficiencies posed potential harm and the risk of serious injury, though thankfully there were no reported impacts on workers, the public, or the environment to date.
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Ray Cassar, ONR’s Fire Safety Inspector, emphasized the critical importance of robust fire safety protocols at nuclear sites, stating: “Our inspectors found that fire safety arrangements at the Hinkley Point C site did not meet the stringent standards required, particularly given the complexity and scale of current construction activities. Previous inspections have also highlighted similar concerns."
The enforcement notice, issued under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, mandates that Bylor JV implement necessary improvements by June 30, 2026. In the interim, the contractor must manage fire risks effectively to prevent any further issues. ONR will continue to work closely with Bylor JV to ensure compliance and safeguard against future fire risks.