08-08-2025
AWE Aldermaston site safety procedures 'improved'
An atomic weapons site has improved procedures after an explosive component was damaged, the nuclear watchdog has Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) served an improvement notice to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) site in Aldermaston, Berkshire in followed an incident when an explosive component was unintentionally damaged by workers assembling a unit for testing said it had conducted regular site visits and reviewed safety and AWE had "constructively and proactively engaged".
The damage was caused when workers failed to follow appropriate procedures when manually handling the improvement notice required AWE to better plan, oversee and control activities in the Explosive Technology Centre at the site, which maintains and develops nuclear warheads, said there was no risk to the public or the environment from the Allmark, ONR's head of regulation for weapons sub-directorate, said: "The licensee has taken clear and coordinated action to address the identified shortfalls and we are satisfied that it has demonstrated compliance with the notice."ONR will continue its routine regulatory oversight of the stated mission is to protect society by securing safe nuclear nuclear regulator takes enforcement action when licensees are found to be failing to meet the safety and security standards required by can range from advice by inspectors to warnings, letters, improvement or prohibition notices, or prosecutions and instigating court proceedings.
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