A COMPANY working at Barrow's shipyard has been urged to improve its safety practices after an incident that could have caused 'serious personal injury'.

The country's nuclear watchdog has stepped in after a load was dropped from a crane at the site.

No workers were injured when the object fell.

However, the Office for Nuclear Regulation has served an improvement notice on construction firm Morgan Sindall following the incident.

The watchdog, which regulates Britain's nuclear sites, said that on August 21 a crane rail was dropped from a crane.

Action to improve the company's safety standards is being taken due to the risk of injury, the regulator said.

The construction firm is completing building work at BAE's shipyard, with the Devonshire Dock Complex undergoing expansion to deliver the next generations of nuclear submarines.

Morgan Sindall has been given until the end of February to comply with the improvement notice.

A probe into the incident is continuing.

An ONR spokesman said: "There was no harm to workers, the public or the environment due to the incident.

"However, ONR identified the potential for harm and risk of serious personal injury, which required regulatory action.

"ONR has issued an improvement notice to Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 2(1) and 3(1), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3(1) and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, Regulation 8(1).

"ONR is continuing its investigation into the incident at the site, operated by BAE Systems Marine Ltd, so cannot publicly discuss any further details at this stage.

"Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd, based in London, has until 28 February 2024 to comply with the improvement notice."

The construction contractor previously built the £100 million Central Yard Complex, used to fit out each section of new submarines before they are moved to another area of the site where the build process is completed.

BAE is working on the delivery of Astute and Dreadnought submarines to the Royal Navy, with further expansion of the site and its workforce being brought about the AUKUS defence agreement between the UK, USA and Australia.

Morgan Sindall has been contacted for comment.