Contracting firm and director fined after worker receives electric shock

Date:

8 March 2012

Release No:

LON/040/12

A Hertfordshire contracting company and its managing director have been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker received an electric shock from a live junction box during poorly planned maintenance work in London.

Polish national Krzysztof Jabczanik was hospitalised in an induced coma as a result of the incident at a storage company on St Leonards Road, North Acton, on 4 August 2010. He also received serious burns to his left hand and suffered memory loss.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard yesterday (7 March) that his employer Fras Contractors Limited, managed by Adam Fras, could and should have done more to protect the worker as he attempted to repair an external flood light.

The Health and Safety Executive presented evidence that the routine job was flawed in a number of ways.

Firstly, a ladder was placed on top of storage boxes underneath the junction box unit. These should have been moved to make space.

Secondly, the cover of the junction box was removed before the electrical circuit within was isolated. As a result Mr Jabczanik received an electric shock when he touched the live junction box with his left hand.

The work was supervised by Adam Fras, a registered electrical engineer who knew how to make the circuit safe but neglected to take appropriate action. He ran to isolate the power, but Mr Jabczanik was found unconscious at the foot of the ladder on top of the storage boxes.

Adam Fras pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 in relation to the incident following the HSE investigation. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

Fras Contractors Limited, of Station Road, Smallford, St Albans, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £1,500 with costs of £1,000.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Jack Wilby said:

"Adam Fras is a qualified electrician who really should have known better. He and his firm ignored the essentials, in this instance isolating the power and ensuring a ladder was used in a safe manner. As a result Mr Jabczanik was placed in totally unnecessary danger and he very nearly paid with his life.

"This case serves as a reminder of the risks from both electricity and working at height, and highlights that even experienced trades people should never underestimate the task in hand."

For further information about working safely with electricity, or working safely at height, visit the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related 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. Section 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states: "No person shall be engaged in any work activity on or so near any live conductor (other than one suitably covered with insulating material so as to prevent danger) that danger may arise unless-
   1. it is unreasonable in all the circumstances for it to be dead; and
   2. it is reasonable in all the circumstances for him to be at work on or near it while it is live; and
   3. suitable precautions (including where necessary the provision of suitable protective equipment) are taken to prevent injury."
3. Section 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work at height is-
   1. properly planned;
   2. appropriately supervised; and
   3. carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe."

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR London