The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has notified AWE plc that it will be prosecuted under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974).
The charge relates to an incident on 20 June 2019, at the AWE Aldermaston site which resulted in a contractor narrowly avoiding injury when a flash over of electricity occurred from a 415V electrical source. The incident was a conventional health and safety matter and took place in a ‘non-nuclear’ building, so there was no radiological risk to workers or the public.
The decision to commence legal proceedings follows an investigation into the incident by ONR, the UK’s independent nuclear safety regulator.
The case is scheduled to be heard at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 7 December 2020.
For legal reasons, ONR said it is unable to comment further on the details of this case which is now the subject of live court proceedings. It will post updates on its website as the case progresses.
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