A date has been set for the health and safety trial of a construction company following the death of a worker at AWE’s Aldermaston nuclear site – nearly five years after the incident.
Balfour Beatty Group Limited appeared at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday for a pre-trial preparation hearing and has denied breaching health and safety regulations.
The charges relate to an incident which occurred at the nuclear site in West Berkshire on July 6, 2023, when Stuart Cook, 58, a construction worker from East London, died after sustaining fatal injuries.
A trial date was scheduled for May 22, 2028, at Reading Crown Court, which is expected to last two weeks.
At a previous hearing in March, Balfour Beatty Group Limited pleaded not guilty to failing to discharge its duty to ensure the health and safety of its employee Stuart Cook, in relation to the risks arising from construction work, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2(1).
The company also pleaded not guilty to failing to discharge its duty to ensure that those not in its employment but whom may have been affected were not thereby exposed to risks to their health and safety, in relation to the risks arising from construction work, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 3(1).
The incident was a health and safety matter, and there was no radiological risk to the public.
The decision to begin legal proceedings followed an investigation by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
As legal proceedings are active, ONR cannot provide further comment on the case at this time.
