EDF and Trillium Flow Services Ltd have been fined a combined total of £633,333 after a scaffolder was seriously injured by a falling two-tonne counterweight at Dungeness B power station.

Scaffolder, Colin Dell, 62, was carrying out work in the vicinity of the main cooling water discharge valves at the site in Kent when the accident occurred.

On 13 June, 2022, he was involved in scaffolding work but a hydraulic actuator, known as a ram, was not in place which meant the unsupported heavy counterweight could fall at any point.

While the contractor was measuring up, the unsupported counterweight suddenly fell from a cooling water pump, striking Dell’s hand and then his foot, and leaving him trapped. He sustained serious injuries to his left foot including broken and amputated toes for which he was taken to hospital where he remained for four days.

Dell’s injuries have been described as lifechanging and he has been unable to return to work as a scaffolder. He has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Both EDF and Trillium Flow Services Ltd pleaded guilty to safety offences at Folkestone Magistrates Court following a prosecution prepared by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

District Judge Stephen Leake ruled EDF must pay a fine of £533,333 and Trillium Flow Services Ltd was given a fine of £100,000, along with prosecution costs of £15,034 each.

After the hearing, Dan Hasted, ONR’s Director of Regulation – Operating Facilities Directorate, said: “We welcome the outcome which recognises that EDF and Trillium Flow Services Ltd failed in their duty to protect a worker from a known risk.

“This accident was wholly avoidable. Nobody should go to work and not come home in a fit and healthy state.

“We conducted a thorough investigation which identified significant shortcomings by EDF and Trillium Flow Services Ltd specifically their failure to follow the correct sequence for re-fitting the valve which resulted in the injuries to Mr Dell.

“We concluded that there were several missed opportunities that could have prevented this accident occurring.”

Dungeness B, which ended its power generation activities in June 2021 and is now in the defueling stage, has four main cooling water pumps which provide seawater to the main condensers – and each of these pumps is fitted with a discharge valve.