Improvement notice issued after crane component failure at Hinkley Point C

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an improvement notice on NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd (NNB GenCo) relating to the monitoring and management of tower cranes at the Hinkley Point C construction site in Somerset.

The enforcement action relates to the failure of components on a tower crane, identified by an operator undertaking pre-use checks on site in February 2025.

This consisted of the failure of a pin connecting two mast sections together, and evidence of cracking within a mast section.

The findings were reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).

The issue was identified before there was any broader failure of the crane, so there were no injuries to any workers.

ONR has served the improvement notice to NNB GenCo who are the site licensee and the principal contractor for the ongoing construction project.

Regulatory enquiries established a failure by NNB GenCo as the principal contractor to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase and coordinate health and safety requirements specifically in relation to the maintenance and condition of tower cranes.

This was in contravention of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 13 (1).

John McKenniff, ONR principal inspector, said: “While the observed damage did not result in any crane failure or collapse, this improvement notice was served to ensure that action is taken to prevent any similar occurrences in the future.

“We will monitor the actions of NNB GenCo and will consider taking further action if additional shortfalls are identified.”

This was a conventional health and safety incident and not related to nuclear safety.

NNB GenCo Ltd must comply with the requirements of the improvement notice by 30 June 2025.