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Firms fined £633k over nuclear power plant injury

The Office for Nuclear Regulation A view of the outside of Dungeness B nuclear power station, showing cooling towers and grey buildings.The Office for Nuclear Regulation
The accident happened at Dungeness B nuclear power station, which is being decommissioned

Two companies have been fined a total of £633,333 after a scaffolder lost some of his toes in an accident at a former nuclear power station.

It happened on 13 June 2022 at Dungeness B in Kent, which is being decommissioned.

Colin Dell, 62, was hit by a two-tonne counterweight which had not been properly secured, leading to some of his toes needing to be amputated.

EDF and Trillium Flow Services Ltd admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of workers, in relation to the risks arising whilst undertaking maintenance and repair work, and were fined at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

EDF was fined £533,333 and Trillium Flow Services Ltd fined £100,000, along with prosecution costs of £15,034.73 each.

The prosecution was carried out by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

It said the falling counterweight hit Mr Dell's hand and foot, leaving him trapped.

He has been unable to go back to work as a scaffolder and has suffered post-traumatic stress.

Office for Nuclear Regulation Machinery inside Dungeness B, with pipes painted green and walkways and ladders painted grey.Office for Nuclear Regulation
Mr Dell's foot became trapped in this machinery inside Dungeness B

The regulator said some of EDF's employees had been asked to fulfil roles outside of their technical capabilities and tasks were being undertaken without the correct signed approvals.

Measures to reduce risks were not taken and the company’s health and safety practices fell far below appropriate standards, it said.

ONR also found Trillium Flow Services Ltd was responsible for an unsuitable and insufficient risk assessment, a team relatively inexperienced in working on the main counterweight valves at the site, a lack of understanding of the operation of the valves and evidence of ill-informed decision-making.

Dan Hasted, ONR’s director of regulation, operating facilities division, said: “This accident was wholly avoidable. Nobody should go to work and not come home in a fit and healthy state.

“We concluded that there were several missed opportunities that could have prevented this accident occurring."

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