diff --git a/openmc/data/effective_dose/dose.py b/openmc/data/effective_dose/dose.py
index 6ceb2c09e0..eb8fe9f356 100644
--- a/openmc/data/effective_dose/dose.py
+++ b/openmc/data/effective_dose/dose.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def _load_dose_icrp116():
     """Load effective dose tables from text files"""
     for particle, filename in _FILES:
         path = Path(__file__).parent / filename
-        data = np.loadtxt(path, skiprows=3)
+        data = np.loadtxt(path, skiprows=3, encoding='utf-8')
         data[:, 0] *= 1e6   # Change energies to eV
         _DOSE_ICRP116[particle] = data