ONR has advised AWE plc of its intention to prosecute

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has advised AWE plc of its intention to prosecute the company under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in relation to an electrical incident which occurred on 20 June 2019. AWE has indicated a guilty plea to the Court and to ONR, with the formal plea to be entered at the sentencing hearing on 7 December 2020.

The incident happened during a pre-demolition survey of a facility on the company’s Aldermaston site, when a contractor came into contact with a live circuit. The contractor was unharmed and sought medical advice as a precautionary measure.

AWE has co-operated fully with the ONR’s formal investigation into the incident. This was a conventional health and safety matter and there was no radiological risk to workers or the public.

AWE is committed to improving safety performance across its sites and will continue to work closely with its regulators to achieve this.

We are unable to comment further at this time as the matter is subject to legal proceedings.