Fire safety violations identified during inspection of Hinkley Point C
Five organisations at Hinkley Point C construction site receive fire safety enforcement notice
Last updated 6th Feb 2026
Five organisations involved in the Hinkley Point C construction site in Somerset have been issued a fire enforcement notice by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) due to 'significant' fire safety shortfalls identified during a recent inspection.
The Mechanical, Electrical and Heating (MEH) alliance overseeing various works at the site includes Altrad Babcock Ltd, Altrad Services Ltd, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick Ltd, Cavendish Nuclear, and NG Bailey Ltd.
An inspection conducted in December 2025 focused on assessing the MEH fire safety arrangements in the Unit 1 HF (electrical) building for compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
ONR inspectors found several crucial deficiencies, such as the absence of a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment, insufficient emergency exits for people working in the building, and the accumulation of combustible materials within a designated emergency exit staircase.
The enforcement action obligates the mentioned organisations to implement improvements to establish and maintain compliance with fire safety regulations, thereby preventing reoccurrences.
Mahtab Khan, ONR's Head of Regulation - EPR emphasized the importance of fire safety in regulatory practices and stated:
“Fire safety is an important part of our regulatory activity and is not optional – it is a legal requirement that protects lives.
“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 alliance, we have made good progress in understanding the root causes of these shortfalls to ensure they are addressed.”
While no adverse effects on employees, the public, or the environment occurred due to these shortfalls, the ONR highlighted the potential risks of harm and serious injury, necessitating regulatory intervention.
A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C said: “We are working closely with our contract partners to ensure that the appropriate enhancements are made to address the matters identified by the regulator. Safety is our overriding priority, and we are already acting to oversee improvements.”