Nuclear plant granted improvement notice extension

EDF was issued with an improvement notice after a scaffolder was hurt at the site

An improvement notice issued to a nuclear power station after a scaffolder was injured by a defective light fitting has been extended.

Hartlepool nuclear power station operator EDF has been given extra time to carry out improvements after receiving the notice from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) in May.

The ONR said a worker had been injured by a defective light fitting in February.

EDF said it was developing a "specific training package" to minimise the risk of incidents.

The ONR said the extension would allow the plant to complete the work which it expects to rollout in the summer.

It had previously said the accident had occurred even though EDF had identified the defective light in October 2024.

It said EDF had not correctly assessed the health and safety risks with the light at the time.

The watchdog said it would continue to monitor the plant's progress in line with the notice, which is now due on 15 August.

The station opened in 1983 and has two advanced gas-cooled reactors capable of powering 1.4m homes.

Last year it was announced the site would continue to operate for an extra year until 2027.