An employee was electrocuted while undertaking maintenance work at a Kent power station.

The worker required medical attention after being shocked by a portable heater at Dungeness B power station.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) – the government‘s nuclear watchdog says there was no risk to nuclear safety, the public or the environment as a result of the incident on November 5, 2023.

However, an investigation by the agency has found electrical systems at the Romney Marsh facility were not up to scratch and has called on Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd (EDF), who runs the site, to make safety improvements.

Mike Webb, ONR’s Superintending Inspector for Operating Reactors, said: “Our investigation found that EDF had failed to ensure the electrical systems involved in the incident were constructed and maintained in a way that prevented danger to their workers, so far as is reasonably practicable.

“We will engage with EDF during the period of the improvement notice to ensure positive progress is made to address the shortfall.”

Having ceased energy production in 2021 following technical issues, the power station is currently in the process of defueling – a procedure to remove all nuclear fuel that is expected to take around five years.

In the past year, there have been calls for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) – a new type of nuclear reactor – to be installed at the latter site.

EDF has until 31 July to comply with the improvement notice.

ONR has also issued an enforcement letter to EDF to consider the fleet-wide implications of the use and maintenance of portable electrical equipment.

The organisation has until 15 March to provide ONR with a response on how they will address this issue across its other UK sites.

An EDF spokesperson said: “On November 5 2023, and during clean-up operations from Storm Ciaran, a member of EDF staff received an electric shock from a heater being used onsite. He was taken to hospital for treatment but was back at work shortly after. EDF continues to work with ONR on the incident.”