The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has notified Sellafield Ltd of its intention to prosecute the company for offences under Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974).
The charge relates to an incident on 5 February, 2017, at a facility which handles special nuclear materials, which resulted in personal contamination to a Sellafield Ltd employee. The decision to prosecute follows an investigation into the incident by the ONR, the UK's independent nuclear safety regulator.
A spokesman for the ONR said: "For legal reasons we are unable to comment further on the details of the case which is now the subject of active court proceedings."
Proceedings will be commenced in Workington Magistrates Court in due course.
* Section 2 (1) 'General duties of employers to their employees' of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974) reads: 'It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.'