The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has ordered Morgan Sindall to improve its health and safety practices following a crane accident at a nuclear site.
On 21 August, a crane rail was dropped from a crane operated by Morgan Sindall at the Devonshire Dock complex in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The shipyard, operated by BAE Systems Marine Ltd, builds the UK’s most advanced nuclear submarines.
Although the incident did not cause harm to workers, the public or the environment, the ONR issued an improvement notice as a result of the potential harm. The company has until February 28, 2024 to comply.
ONR continues to investigate the incident.
The regulator issued the improvement notice under sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which requires employers to ensure the health, safety and the welfare of all employees and non-employees.
The improvement notice also covers the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to carry out sufficient assessments of health and safety risks in a workplace, and the of Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment 1998, which obliges employers to ensure that lifting operations are carried out correctly. planned, supervised and carried out.
The shipyard was originally built in the 1980s to build Vanguard-class nuclear submarines. The site is nearing the end of an eight-year program to upgrade the facility to build a new class of nuclear submarines, known as the Successor.
Morgan Sindall was appointed in 2016 to build a £67 million extension to the existing Devonshire Dock Hall to incorporate the construction of successor submarines.
The contractor also delivered a £100 million facility at the site in 2018, known as the Central Yard Complex, which is equipped to fit out sections of the new submarines before they are transported to Devonshire Dock Hall.
Costain and Wates are also taking part in the £300m framework to refurbish the shipyard, as part of the Trident replacement programme.
Morgan Sindall has been contacted for comment.
