Balfour Beatty has pleaded not guilty to health and safety offences related to a worker death at a nuclear site in Berkshire.
The tier one contractor entered a not guilty plea yesterday (18 March) in a prosecution brought by the UK’s independent nuclear regulator the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
The charges relate to an incident on 6 July 2023 when Stuart Cook, a 58-year-old construction worker, died after sustaining fatal injuries at AWE plc’s Aldermaston site, according to the regulator.
Balfour Beatty entered the plea at High Wycombe Magistrates Court, the ONR said.
The contractor pleaded not guilty following charges that it failed to discharge its duty to ensure Cook’s health and safety, in relation to the risks arising from construction work, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2(1), according to the ONR.
Balfour Beatty also pleaded not guilty to breaching its duty under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which obliges firms to protect non-employees from construction-related health and safety risks.
The incident at the site was a conventional health and safety matter and did not pose any radiological risk to the public, the ONR said.
The regulator added that it would not comment further as legal proceedings are active.
A trial date has not been scheduled, but the ONR said it would announce the time and location in due course.
