Sellafield has been told it is to be prosecuted following a "high voltage" incident in which an employee was injured.

The west Cumbrian nuclear site has been informed today that it is to be prosecuted under health and safety law by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK's independent nuclear regulation statutory organisation.

The prosecution comes following an incident in April this year, in which a Sellafield employee "sustained injuries while working on high voltage electrical equipment", a spokesman for the ONR said.

"The incident was a conventional health and safety matter and there was no radiological risk to workers or the public."

Following the incident, which occurred on April 24, a Sellafield spokesman explained that the male employee was injured "while working on some electrical equipment", and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

The decision to commence legal proceedings follows an investigation into the incident by ONR, the UK’s independent nuclear safety regulator.

The first hearing is due to take place at Carlisle Magistrates Court on December 18.

The ONR spokesman added: "For legal reasons we are unable to comment further on the details of this case which is now the subject of live court proceedings."

A spokesman for Sellafield said today: "The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has notified us of its intention to prosecute the company under Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

"This relates to an incident on the Sellafield site in April 2020 when one of our employees sustained injuries while carrying out electrical work.

"We are unable to comment further as it the matter is now the subject of active court proceedings."