AWE plc has been fined following a guilty plea to a charge brought by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This was in relation to an incident at AWE’s Aldermaston site in June 2019, comprising a flash-over of electricity when a contractor’s tool made contact with a live conductor. No one was harmed as a result of the incident.
Following the conclusion of the sentencing hearing today (7 December 2020) at High Wycombe Magistrates Court, AWE notes and accepts the Court’s fine in the order of £660,000.
AWE’s CEO, Alison Atkinson, said: “I deeply regret that the incident of 20 June 2019 occurred, and recognise that on this occasion, AWE fell short in its legal duty to protect the safety of workers employed by a contractor on our site.”
This was a conventional health and safety matter which posed no nuclear risk to workers or members of the public.
AWE had previously indicated a guilty plea to the court and the ONR prior to the sentencing hearing taking place.
Alison Atkinson, added: “We take our health and safety responsibilities extremely seriously and have co-operated fully with the ONR throughout the course of the investigation.
“We remain committed to achieving the highest standards in safety performance, working collaboratively with our regulators, contractors and partners.”