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Nuclear warhead maker admits safety breach over 2010 fire | Nuclear warhead maker admits safety breach over 2010 fire |
(5 days later) | |
The Atomic Weapons Establishment, which makes and maintains warheads for the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent, has admitted putting employees at risk. | The Atomic Weapons Establishment, which makes and maintains warheads for the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent, has admitted putting employees at risk. |
Failings in safety procedures led to one member of staff being injured in a fire at AWE's complex in Aldermaston, Berkshire, on 3 August 2010, it admitted. | Failings in safety procedures led to one member of staff being injured in a fire at AWE's complex in Aldermaston, Berkshire, on 3 August 2010, it admitted. |
On Thursday, AWE pleaded guilty at Reading crown court to a single count of breaching safety law in relation to the 2010 fire. | On Thursday, AWE pleaded guilty at Reading crown court to a single count of breaching safety law in relation to the 2010 fire. |
The court heard there were no radiological implications as the fire took place in a part of the plant which deals with conventional explosives, but residents nearby were evacuated. | The court heard there were no radiological implications as the fire took place in a part of the plant which deals with conventional explosives, but residents nearby were evacuated. |
Production at one of the site's buildings was suspended in January this year over separate safety concerns following a routine inspection. | Production at one of the site's buildings was suspended in January this year over separate safety concerns following a routine inspection. |
Bernard Thoroughgood, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, told the court that senior management bore responsibility for the failures. | Bernard Thoroughgood, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, told the court that senior management bore responsibility for the failures. |
"It is the prosecution's case that the facts show that management at a more senior level than those in the particular building (where the fire happened) are here culpable and at fault," he said. | "It is the prosecution's case that the facts show that management at a more senior level than those in the particular building (where the fire happened) are here culpable and at fault," he said. |
"When failures continue over time, that goes way beyond those making decisions on an hour-to-hour basis – it goes right up to senior management." | "When failures continue over time, that goes way beyond those making decisions on an hour-to-hour basis – it goes right up to senior management." |
AWE is owned by a consortium of the Jacobs Engineering Group, Lockheed Martin UK and Serco, but the government has a "golden share" and is the proprietor of the site where the fire broke out. | AWE is owned by a consortium of the Jacobs Engineering Group, Lockheed Martin UK and Serco, but the government has a "golden share" and is the proprietor of the site where the fire broke out. |
The court heard that AWE failed its workers in terms of "hazard identification, risk assessment, training, supervision, monitoring and audit". | The court heard that AWE failed its workers in terms of "hazard identification, risk assessment, training, supervision, monitoring and audit". |
The injured worker, Ashley Emery, received burns to his face and arm, and was left with a visible scar on the arm. | The injured worker, Ashley Emery, received burns to his face and arm, and was left with a visible scar on the arm. |
He was working late in the evening with highly flammable material while wearing inadequate personal protection gear in a building containing high explosive material. | He was working late in the evening with highly flammable material while wearing inadequate personal protection gear in a building containing high explosive material. |
When he noticed bubbling which troubled him, he moved back but was caught by a fireball. | When he noticed bubbling which troubled him, he moved back but was caught by a fireball. |
In extracts from a statement read to the court, Emery described how he was "overwhelmed by a bright orange flash and whooshing sound". | In extracts from a statement read to the court, Emery described how he was "overwhelmed by a bright orange flash and whooshing sound". |
"He found this very distressing, very shocking and has not felt able to return to being an explosives worker," Thoroughgood said, adding: "He describes a variety of flashbacks, nightmares and worries that he did not use to have, and he has had some medication, as he explained, for anxiety and other problems." | "He found this very distressing, very shocking and has not felt able to return to being an explosives worker," Thoroughgood said, adding: "He describes a variety of flashbacks, nightmares and worries that he did not use to have, and he has had some medication, as he explained, for anxiety and other problems." |
The fire was attended by 68 personnel from three fire and rescue services, including AWE's on-site crew. | The fire was attended by 68 personnel from three fire and rescue services, including AWE's on-site crew. |
It had not been possible to determine beyond reasonable doubt the exact cause of the blaze but it was probably an electrostatic discharge, the court heard. | It had not been possible to determine beyond reasonable doubt the exact cause of the blaze but it was probably an electrostatic discharge, the court heard. |
The prosecutor admitted the fire posed a low risk of detonation, but added that any explosion within the room would have had potentially damaging effects. | The prosecutor admitted the fire posed a low risk of detonation, but added that any explosion within the room would have had potentially damaging effects. |
"When dealing with explosives one is faced with consequences, and the consequences if there had been a detonation here would have been very severe indeed," he said. | "When dealing with explosives one is faced with consequences, and the consequences if there had been a detonation here would have been very severe indeed," he said. |
He claimed there had been conservatism in the production methods used at the plant, which prevented the introduction of better procedures. | He claimed there had been conservatism in the production methods used at the plant, which prevented the introduction of better procedures. |
The court heard that AWE had turnover of £868m in 2012 and profits after tax of £11.3m. | The court heard that AWE had turnover of £868m in 2012 and profits after tax of £11.3m. |
It has more than 4,000 employees at the Aldermaston plant. | It has more than 4,000 employees at the Aldermaston plant. |
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