Firm in court after worker burned by power cable

Date:

11 November 2010

Release No:

WM267/10

A Birmingham heating company has been convicted after one of its workers suffered serious burns from a power cable.

The man from Coventry, who asked not to be identified, was using a hand held mini breaker to dig through concrete in an alleyway at Smith Street, Warwick, when he struck an 11kv cable under the pavement on 29 April 2009.

The resulting flash from the power cable caused the man to suffer second degree burns to his face and neck that subsequently kept him off work for five weeks.

The Magna Heating Company Limited, formerly of Ludgate Hill, which is now in liquidation and no longer trading, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 at Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court. The company was fined £1.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company had failed to take sufficient steps to protect its employees from the risk presented by underground cables.

HSE inspector Paul Cooper said:

"This incident was entirely preventable had the company taken proper precautions. The company knew about HSE guidance on safe digging practice and failed to follow it.

"The Magna Heating Company should have given clear instructions to its workers, provided a method statement before undertaking the work and obtained plans of site services.

"It's essential that employers have safe working procedures for any work involving underground services, electrical plant, cabling or equipment."

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 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) states: Every contractor shall plan, manage and monitor construction work carried out by him or under his control in a way which ensures that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health and safety.
3. HSE provides clear guidance on working safely on construction sites and avoiding danger from underground services in booklet HSG47, which is available from HSE's website.

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