Worker breaks back in fall after electric shock

Date:

16 December 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-48

A subcontractor fell more than five metres from a crane ladder after suffering an electric shock at one of the UK's largest timber merchants, a court heard.

Mechanical fitter, David Minor, suffered a catalogue of injuries including a broken vertebra as a result of the incident, Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court heard today.

Cambridge-based building and timber merchants Ridgeons Ltd, which operates from 22 locations across the East of England, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident which happened on 16 September 2008.

Mr Minor, 63, of Bury St Edmunds, was employed by Graham Parish Engineering which had been subcontracted by Ridgeons to fix an overhead crane system at its timber engineering workshop in Sudbury, Suffolk.

He was climbing a ladder to access the crane when he made contact with a live conductor. He fell 18ft and landed on the concrete floor, sustaining a fractured vertebra, a broken ankle, smashed heel, and burns to his hands.

The conductor Mr Minor touched was the main power channel to the overhead crane. It carried three phase 415v electricity but was not marked and had not been isolated prior to work commencing.

Ridgeons admitted breaching Regulation 4(3) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, failing to ensure work was carried out in such a manner as to not give rise to danger. The firm was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £4,344.70 in costs.

HSE Inspector Jonathan Elven said:

"It is essential for companies to ensure that work undertaken on their behalf by subcontractors is properly managed and safe systems of work agreed prior to work commencing.

"Ridgeons have admitted that the task was handed over to Mr Minor without discussion as to the way it was to be undertaken or any precautions that may be needed prior to it being started."

Notes to editors

1. HSE is Britain's national regulator for workplace safety and health. It aims to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 2 (1) of the Health and safety at work etc Act 1974 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. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Regulation 4(3) states: 'Every work activity, including operation, use and maintenance of a system and work near a system, shall be carried out in such a manner as not to give rise, so far as is reasonably practicable, to danger.'
4. HSE advice on how to prevent falls from height can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm

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