Safety order after fire at nuclear sub shipyard

Smoke was seen coming from the BAE Systems site during the early hours of 30 October

BAE Systems has been told to improve its safety practices following a fire which broke out at its nuclear submarine shipyard last year.

The blaze struck in the early hours of 30 October at the firm's site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, where the UK's nuclear submarines are built.

No-one was seriously injured and Cumbria Police said at the time that there was "no nuclear risk", but the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said five staff members had entered the site of the blaze while it was still burning.

The ONR has told the company to put arrangements in place "to ensure the protection of workers in the event of a fire". BAE has been approached for comment.

Of the five workers who entered Devonshire Dock Hall, two were then taken to hospital.

However the pair were then soon discharged and able to return to work the same day, the ONR said.

Smoke damage could be seen to the outside of the building

The ONR said BAE's procedures to ensure workers did not enter places of danger without "appropriate safety instructions" were "inadequate".

There was also a lack of guidance to inform staff about what they should do in the event of a fire, it said.

The regulator said the firm needed to demonstrate suitable emergency arrangements in the event of a fire were in place by 12 September.