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Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd complies with improvement notice

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) can confirm that Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd (DRDL) has now complied with an improvement notice served on them after a worker experienced an electrical shock onboard a submarine.

The incident occurred on the HMS Vanguard nuclear submarine while it was in the 9 Dock facility at Plymouth site in Devon in September 2021 during routine maintenance work on an electrical system.

The worker did not sustain any injuries, and there was no risk to nuclear safety, the public or the environment as a result of the incident.

Bruce Archer, Head of the ONR’s Propulsion Sub-Division, said: “Since we served the improvement notice we have undertaken targeted inspections at the site.

“We are now satisfied that DRDL has established a safe system of control measures for electrical work on submarines and they have developed plans for long-term safety improvements across the site.”

ONR issued the improvement notice under the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 Sections 2(1) and 3(1), Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Regulations 4(3) and 13, and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999 Regulation 5(1).