The Atomic Weapons Establishment PLC was fined £200,000 for an offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – Bernard Thorogood prosecuted the case on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive. AWE were also ordered to pay the whole of the prosecution’s costs (£80,258) and, unusually, compensation to an injured worker.
The case was brought after a significant fire, which caused great damage to the building concerned, broke out during the manufacturing of conventional explosives at the company’s Aldermaston site in 2010. The Judge found that significant risks had existed for some years.
Please click here to read more about this case from HSE and BBC News.
