AWE admits safety breach over 2010 Aldermaston fire

A worker burnt his left arm and face in the fire at the Aldermaston site in August 2010

The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) failed to properly protect its workers during a fire at its Berkshire site.

Reading Crown Court heard the fire in Aldermaston in August 2010 happened in a building which housed explosives.

Ashley Emery, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, suffered burns when a fireball erupted in his face.

AWE admitted a single breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The case has been adjourned and sentencing will take place at a later date.

Warheads for Trident, the UK's submarine-launched ballistic missile, are built and maintained at the AWE site, which employs more than 4,000 people.

'Electrostatic discharge'

Mr Emery's burns to his arm and face were caused by an eruption from a "bubbling" mixture he was preparing in the manufacture of explosives.

AWE accepted Mr Emery had been working for more than 12 hours when the fire broke out.

AWE's on-site firefighters and crews from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service tackled the blaze

The HSE criticised AWE for a lack of proper awareness of dangerous materials.

Its defence accepted a failure to recognise the risks of materials involved in manufacture of explosives and a failure to reflect that in its processes.

Protective clothing provided to employees was also deemed unsuitable by the HSE and was heard to carry a label saying "keep away from flames".

An AWE investigation found electrostatic discharge to be the most likely cause of the fire.

The court heard no radioactive material was involved in the fire, which was under control within five hours, having started at 21:00 BST on 3 August 2010.

It was dealt with by AWE's on-site services and firefighters from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Bernard Thorogood, prosecuting on behalf of the HSE, said AWE's firefighters were not aware of the presence of explosives when they arrived at the blaze. They withdrew when they were informed.

The homes of 14 local residents were evacuated, with people spending the night in hotels in Aldermaston and Basingstoke.

'Lessons learnt'

An investigation by the HSE found issues with the control systems that were in place.

In a statement read outside court, AWE's director of science, technology and production, Dr Graeme Nicholson accepted the company failed to meet its health and safety responsibilities on the day of the fire.

He said: "We are sorry a member of our staff was injured and for the disruption caused to local residents.

"The company immediately instigated a full, independently chaired investigation and the results were shared with our local liaison committee and the public.

"We accepted all the recommendations and, over the last three years, we have worked hard to implement these and those made by the HSE.

"Lessons have been learnt and we remain committed to achieving the highest standards in safety performance.

"We will continue to work openly and collaboratively with all our regulators."