Solihull construction firm fined for worker's burns

Date:

15 November 2010

Release No:

WM252/10

A Solihull construction firm has been fined after one of its workers suffered burns when his drill hit a power cable.

The worker, who asked not to be named, was using a pneumatic drill to dig a trench at the Taylor Wimpey housing development at Westminster Place in Rushall, Walsall, when he struck an 11kv cable under the pavement on 13 August 2009.

He suffered severe burns from the resulting flash and was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham for emergency treatment.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Pacestone Construction Ltd had failed to take sufficient steps to protect its employees from the risk presented by underground cables. The worker was unaware of where they were located on the site.

Pacestone Construction Limited, of Freda House, Oak Farm, Catherine De Barnes, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 34(3) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. It was fined £13,000 and ordered to pay £3,870 costs by Walsall Magistrates' Court.

HSE inspector David Price said:

"This incident was entirely preventable had the company taken sensible precautions. Using a cable detector, marking the location of cables and only allowing workers to use hand tools when digging in the proximity of live services would have avoided the risk of hitting cables

"Serious injury or even death can result from contact with electricity. It's essential that employers have safe working procedures for any work involving electrical plant, cabling or equipment."

HSE provides clear guidance on working safely on construction sites and avoiding danger from underground services in booklet HSG47.

Around 1,000 electrical accidents at work are reported to HSE each year and about 25 people die of their injuries. For more information about working safely with electricity go to www.hse.gov.uk/electricity

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce death, injury and ill health. 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. Regulation 34(3) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states: No construction work which is liable to create a risk to health or safety from an underground service, or from damage to or disturbance of it, shall be carried out unless suitable and sufficient steps (including any steps required by this regulation) have been taken to prevent such risk, so far as is reasonably practicable.

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR (West Midlands)