AWE’s nuclear bomb factory at Burghfield has been removed from special safety checks.

But Aldermaston still has a way to go and remains under close scrutiny from regulators.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) says that AWE has delivered ‘significant and sustained’ safety improvements at its Burghfield licensed site, resulting in its move to routine regulatory attention.

The site had been in enhanced regulatory attention for approximately eight years.

It says AWE’s Aldermaston site has also made some progress, but improvement is still needed in some areas, with consideration for a move to routine attention not anticipated by the ONR before the end of 2022 at the earliest.

This is in line with regulatory expectations due to the type of operations, age of facilities and comparative size and complexity of the two sites.

Andy Scargill, AWE’s executive director for environment, safety, health and quality, said: “We are delighted that the ONR has announced that AWE’s Burghfield site has moved from enhanced to routine regulatory attention.

“This acknowledges the commitment shown by AWE’s leadership team, all our staff, Trade Unions and contractors to sustained and significant safety improvement and further demonstrates our proactive approach to safety management and culture.”

He said he recognised that there’s still more to be done at Aldermaston.

The improvements observed by ONR inspectors were driven by AWE’s Structured Improvement Programme (SIP) and its holistic approach to safety performance.

The SIP was initially developed in 2017 from a detailed understanding of the key themes that led to the site receiving enhanced regulatory attention and the causes that led to these themes developing.

Mike Finnerty, ONR’s operating facilities director, added: “AWE’s SIP and holistic approach to safety performance were designed to remedy the causes which led to them receiving enhanced attention through the delivery of a large range of improvement initiatives targeting aspects of organisational culture, practice, and capability.

“I’m pleased that the sustained safety performance witnessed by ONR has reduced the level of regulatory attention required at the site.”