Atomic weapons site ordered to improve procedures

An atomic weapons site has been ordered to improve procedures after an explosives component was damaged.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an improvement notice to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) site in Aldermaston, Berkshire.

It comes after the part was damaged by workers assembling a unit for testing purposes in August.

The damage was caused when workers failed to follow appropriate procedures when manually handling the component.

AWE is the only maker of nuclear warheads in Britain.

The ONR clarified that the type of activities undertaken in the Explosive Technology Centre could not result in any radiological risk.

It added that there was no risk to the public or the environment from the incident.

ONR's investigation, which was supported by the Health and Safety Executive, found AWE had failed to effectively plan, organise and control the procedure, which resulted in employees being subjected to additional health and safety risks.

Tim Allmark, ONR's head of regulation for weapons sub-directorate, said: "The notice requires AWE to ensure that arrangements for explosive safety are appropriate to the activities being undertaken.

"AWE took appropriate and timely action in response to the incident, and we will continue to engage with them during the period of the improvement notice to ensure positive progress is made to address this shortfall."

AWE has until the 20 August 2025 to comply with the notice.

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