Scaffolder's fall on Royal Navy boat leads to court hearing

Emergency services were called to Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, at 13:24 BST on 11 April 2023

A dockyard and a construction firm are being taken to court after a man was injured on board a Royal Navy ship.

Devonport Royal Dockyard, which is part of Babcock, and Kaefer Limited have been charged over the incident on HMS Bulwark in Plymouth on 11 April.

A scaffolder suffered serious injuries after falling 15ft (4.5m) into a tank while working on the warship.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said the firms had been charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

As the UK's independent nuclear regulator it said it had launched an investigation as while HMS Bulwark had no nuclear components the fall occurred in a nuclear licensed site.

Safety an 'absolute priority'

Emergency services were called out to the dockyard at about 13:24 BST on 11 April last year.

Firefighters, paramedics, a Hazardous Area Response Team and a critical care car all attended the incident.

The dockyard's on-site operators are Babcock and the Ministry of Defence, although the latter confirmed the court case does not involve them.

Babcock said health and safety for everyone working on their sites was an "absolute priority", but it would not be commenting any further due to legal proceedings being active.

A spokesperson for Kaefer said health and safety was the company's top priority and it was fully co-operating with authorities over the investigation.

The firm based in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, added it had conducted its own investigations into the incident.

The first hearing is due to take place at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on 27 March.