Coronavirus update from Hinkley Point C - 22 May
I want to give you the latest news from Hinkley Point C as part of my commitment to let you know what we are doing during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since I last updated you the Prime Minister has actively encouraged the construction industry to get back to work. Our approach will continue to be to put the safety of workers and the community first in finding safe ways to work. All the steps we have taken to prevent the spread of infection remain in place, for example reduced numbers to enable social distancing, thermal imaging cameras to check on everyone entering the site and separation in our canteen and on buses.
During resurfacing works at the Quantock Lakes P&R on the A39 from 1 June, we recognise that it will be hard for some members of the local community who work on site to reach other park and ride locations. During this time we will be introducing a limited bus service from Cannington, Combwich, Burton and Shurton. We will be closely monitoring the operation of the services to ensure social distancing. Other routes remain suspended. We are also stepping up fly-parking enforcement during this period.
On site, social distancing is well observed and numbers remain at around 2,500 – about half the number before the crisis. We are also refining shift patterns and break times in order to stop mixing of different teams. Like other businesses, we are looking at how offices might be used in the future, but those who can work from home have not returned to the site. Only a very few people have been allowed to return to our Bristol office to use systems that cannot be used from home. Our internal assurance teams are checking on our performance and continue to look for ways to improve. We are also inspected by the independent regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
For the remaining workforce, the fine weather is helping them get ahead with the focused works that continue. We will soon mark a major milestone with the completion of the base of the second reactor in a few weeks’ time. Under the circumstances, that will be an impressive achievement for teams adapting to new ways of working.
As ever, I wish you all well and encourage you to make contact if you have any questions.
Nigel Cann
Construction Delivery Director, Hinkley Point C
