Council fined after a man suffers severe burns

Date:

8 January 2009

Release No:

HSE/LON/012/2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is demanding that companies follow safe working practices when using mechanical equipment. The call follows HSE's prosecution of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and T Cartledge Ltd after a worker received severe burns when he hit a live electrical cable.

The council was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £39,089 at the City of London Magistrates' Court, after being found guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974.

In a separate prosecution, which related to this incident, T Cartledge Ltd of Chelmsford, Essex, was fined £18,000 with costs of £14,555 after pleading guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974. The company was working as a contractor for Tower Hamlets council.

On 3 October 2005, Martin Rose, who was an employee of T Cartledge Ltd, was operating a mechanical breaker (which breaks up concrete), on the Old Bethnal Green Road, in Tower Hamlets. He was attempting to install a lamppost on the footpath and struck a live 132Kv electrical cable. Mr Rose suffered severe burns.

HSE investigating inspector Janet Seggery said: "This is a dreadful case where the employer had failed to provide plans of underground electrical cables. If the company had simply provided the plans and had supervised the work, this incident would never have occurred."

The HSE investigation showed that Tower Hamlets Council and T Cartledge Ltd had failed to provide Mr Rose with a copy of service plans which would have identified underground electrical cables and they did not supervise the work that was being undertaken.

Notes to editors

1. Section 3(1) of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not exposed to risks to their health or safety."
2. Section 2(1) Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which states: "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."
3. For further information on health and safety in the construction industry see: http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm

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