Coronavirus update from Hinkley Point C - 29 September

Following the recent Government warnings about the growing risk of Coronavirus, I want to keep you up to date with our approach to keeping the community and our workers safe. Although infection levels currently remain low in the South-West, we are not complacent and we are planning in case infections rise further in our region or across the UK. The last six months has given us invaluable experience which will help us take the necessary action to prevent infection.

Our existing protection measures remain in force and are working well. We have taken further steps to make mask wearing mandatory in more situations. This now affects workers moving around inside buildings on the site, in canteens, changing rooms and offices, as well as  measures already in place for our internal and external buses. Most office based staff are able to work effectively from home. Those who have to be on site are meeting digitally rather than face to face. We are preventing infection using our own testing facilities, temperature checks and track and trace measures. Some of you may have seen local media coverage that showed testing new starters during their induction has been effective in stopping infection reaching the site.

Our workforce levels on site are defined by safety and our ability to maintain social distancing. Shift patterns, start and finish times, breaks and access pinch points are carefully planned and remain tightly controlled. In more confined work spaces, risk is assessed and PPE is used. Our buses still have reduced capacity and bus pick-ups and drop-offs remain focused on our park and ride sites. 

We recognise that personal behaviours on and off site are of paramount importance. That is the focus of our internal communications campaign and our new Covid-19 champions are on site to support this drive. As well as our own inspection, safety on site will be overseen by the independent Office for Nuclear Regulation.

I will keep you updated on further measures as the situation develops. In the meantime, I hope you and your families stay safe and well. Please do continue to get in touch with myself and the team if you have any concerns.

Nigel Cann
Construction Delivery Director, Hinkley Point C