Tipper lorry contacts overhead power lines at farm

Summary

A trust was prosecuted following an incident when the raised body of a tipper lorry contacted an overhead power line while it was delivering gravel to a farm. The driver, who escaped injury, was unaware of the overhead power line. There were no precautions to prevent contact with OHPLs, nor any system in place for providing information to contractors or other visitors.

Action

The trust was prosecuted under Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for not having any precautions to prevent contact with OHPLs nor systems in place for providing information to contractors. The trust pleaded guilty and was fined £12,000 together with £6,982 towards the prosecution's costs.

Advice

Find out the maximum height or reach of your machines and that of visitors likely to visit you site. If they are liable to come close to, or in contact with, OHPLs ensure that operators and visitors are informed of the risks, the locations of OHPLs wherever the machine is to be used, and the precautions to be taken. Further guidance is contained in Agriculture Information Sheet no 8 (revised).