ONR extends deadlines for EDF and contractor over asbestos failings at Torness nuclear plant
Published on 07/09/2026 at 16:10 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has granted extensions to improvement notices issued to EDF and its contractor Trillium Flow Services UK after an investigation uncovered administrative failures in asbestos management at the Torness nuclear power station. The failings — which centred on the improper recording of asbestos removal from a valve in 2024 — did not pose a risk to nuclear safety, the public or the environment, the regulator confirmed, but they highlighted weaknesses in the station’s safety management systems that required mandated improvements.
The ONR's action at Torness shows how administrative gaps in hazardous substance management can lead to regulatory scrutiny. For UK employers handling asbestos or other controlled materials, a failure to keep proper COSHH risk assessments can prove costly — both in enforcement action and reputation. A free COSHH Risk Assessment Toolkit provides 43 fully customisable templates, checklists and toolbox talks to help you stay compliant with COSHH regulations. Download the free COSHH Risk Assessment Toolkit
Revised compliance deadlines
Following a review of progress, the ONR adjusted the timetable for the outstanding notices. Trillium Flow Services UK must now meet its improvement obligations by September 30, 2026. EDF faces two separate deadlines: October 30, 2026, for one notice, and January 27, 2027, for a second. The extensions are intended to give both companies sufficient time to implement the necessary administrative and record-keeping changes. EDF has stated that no actual exposure to asbestos occurred during the period in question.
Life extension and investment for UK nuclear fleet
The scrutiny at Torness comes as the UK government and EDF finalise plans for the long-term future of the nation’s nuclear infrastructure. Officials recently confirmed a 20-year life extension for the Sizewell B nuclear power plant in Suffolk, which will now operate until 2055. The plant provides approximately 3% of the UK's total electricity and supports 900 jobs. It was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2035.
The extension involves an £800 million investment in upgrades and a Contract for Difference agreement with the government, setting a strike price of £70.50 per megawatt-hour starting in 2035. Government estimates suggest that had such a pricing agreement been in place during recent global energy crises, it could have resulted in significant consumer savings.
Wider crackdown on asbestos safety
Regulatory bodies have intensified their focus on asbestos-related workplace safety across sectors. On July 6, 2026, World Care (Wales) Limited was fined £36,000 plus costs of more than £8,800 for safety breaches at a site in North Wales. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to provide asbestos awareness training or basic welfare facilities — such as running water and soap — for employees handling potentially contaminated waste.
In the public sector, recent data disclosures have highlighted the prevalence of legacy asbestos. In the Vale of Glamorgan, council records show that 112 buildings currently contain the material, including 40 educational facilities. Meanwhile, Westmorland and Furness Council recently declined a request to release a detailed asbestos survey for Barrow Market Hall, which was closed in February 2026 due to safety risks. The council cited potential legal action as the reason for withholding the report on the facility, which is slated for demolition within the current financial year.
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