Leeds city council fined for high voltage shock

Date:

13 April 2010

Release No:

YH/148/10

A high voltage shock that endangered the life of a lorry driver and exploded the tyres of a tipper truck has today resulted in a £10,500 fine for Leeds City Council.

The council pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 following the incident on 19 June 2008 at their Red Hall Estates landscape construction storage site at Shadwell.

Leeds Magistrates Court heard that the life of a lorry driver was endangered when he lifted the tipper body of his wagon directly underneath a power line. Electricity arced to his vehicle, blowing out his tyres and putting him at risk of electrocution when he left his cab to check what was happening.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that signs and barriers should have been in place preventing the incident from occurring. Lifting machinery was also in operation at the site which could have resulted in a similar incident.

In addition to the £10,500 fine, Leeds City Council was also ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Charlie Callis said:

"It is sheer luck that the driver of the tipper lorry escaped without serious injury and more importantly his life. As he got in and out of his vehicle whilst the tyres were exploding he could easily have been killed.

"Employers and businesses have a responsibility to ensure staff and visitors are aware of the dangers of overhead power lines. Signs and barriers should have been in place, but the council failed to do this.

"Around 1,000 electrical incidents at work are reported to HSE each year and about 25 people die of their injuries, proving just how serious these types of incidents can be."

Visit www.hse.gov.uk/electricity for guidance on electrical safety at work.

Notes to editors

1. 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."
2. Section 3(1) of the 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 thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."
3. More information on health and safety can be found online www.hse.gov.uk

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