Sloppy safety leaves worker scarred

A construction company has been fined after a young worker was scarred for life after striking an underground electrical cable. The construction company had failed to take the necessary precautions to locate electrical cables and were found guilty of breaching regulations by magistrates.

 The 26 year old contractor received severe burns to his hands, arms, face and chest when he drilled through concrete and hit a 415 volt cable. The cable had not been located by the construction company before work began on site. The young worker had been ordered to erect a sign at the entrance to the construction site and had hit the cable when digging holes for the steel posts needed to mount the sign.

Kim Barker Construction Ltd of Scunthorpe were found to be in breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. They were fined £13,000 and ordered to pay £2,039 in costs. The work may receive compensation from the construction company’s employers’ liability insurance, although this was not stated in the judgement.

Electricity on site needs particular attention and has its own set of health and safety guidance and legislation. The HSE are aware that refurbishment of property poses the greatest risk to safety and say, ‘ Refurbishment work in buildings presents the greatest risk and must be planned, managed and monitored to ensure that workers are not exposed to risk from electricity.’

For more information on how to make sure electricity on site is safe and your site complies with guidance and legislation see the HSE website.