ONR Orders Safety Improvements at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station After Worker Incident..
- teessidetoday
- Jan 30
- 2 min read
Regulator Issues Safety Improvement Notice to EDF After Incident at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station
30th Jan 2026
The Office for Nuclear Regulation has issued a formal improvement notice to EDF following a safety incident at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station in which its claimed two employees were exposed to pressurised hydraulic oil during routine maintenance work.
The incident occurred on the 9th of November 2025 while two EDF technicians were carrying out maintenance on a hydraulic system. During the task, a joint on the system was disconnected while hydraulic oil remained under pressure, resulting in the sudden release of the fluid and direct contact with both workers. As a precautionary measure, both employees were taken to hospital for assessment. No serious injuries were reported.
The nuclear regulator today confirmed that the incident posed no risk to nuclear safety, the wider public, or the environment. However, the investigation identified failings in EDF’s internal safety management processes, particularly in relation to the information and guidance provided to staff before undertaking hazardous maintenance operations.
Mike Webb, the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s Joint Head of Safety Regulation for the Operating Reactors Sub-directorate, said the regulator’s enquiries had established that EDF had not provided employees with the required information necessary to carry out the work safely. He confirmed that the regulator would continue to engage with the company throughout the enforcement period to ensure that meaningful improvements are made to address the identified shortcomings.
As a result of the findings, the Office for Nuclear Regulation has issued an improvement notice to EDF under Licence Condition 28, sections (1), (6) and (8), which relate to the proper maintenance, inspection and safety management of plant and equipment at licensed nuclear sites.
EDF has been given a statutory deadline of 17 April 2026 to comply with the requirements of the notice and demonstrate that appropriate corrective actions have been implemented.
