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On the 30th April 2010, the worker on a construction site refurbishing buildings climbed a step ladder to remove a cable. The worker assumed that the cable was dead and so attempted to remove the cable using a hammer and chisel.
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On the 30th April 2010, the worker on a construction site refurbishing buildings climbed a step ladder to remove a cable. The worker assumed that the cable was dead and so attempted to remove the cable using a hammer and chisel. After the second blow, the worker has no recollection other than waking on the floor with a colleague trying to extinguish flames from the top half of his body. The worker received serious 30 - 35% burns to his body which required skin grafts.
The accident victim was a sub contractor of Pineview Interiors Ltd of Havering, London.
At the time of the incident, a 415v 3-phase temporary electrical supply had been provided to the site, and on that morning the worker explained to his supervisor that the electrical cable needed to be removed to allow plasterboard to be installed. HSE investigation revealed that Pineview undertook what HSE deemed to be 'very limited' enquiries as to whether this cable was in fact still live, and its workers proceeded on the false assumption that the cable being described must have been an old redundant cables from the pre-existing installation.
An HSE official commented: "The defendant company were aware that their works within 9-15 Leonard Street would require the removal of an electrical head. They were, or should have been, aware that this well labelled system remained live at the time that they instructed their employees to commence work in this location. They were made aware of the intention to remove this electrical head by their employees who held no electrical training or relevant experience. The defendant company then allowed these operatives to attempt to remove the live electrical system with nothing but the most cursory attempt at seeking confirmation that the system was in fact dead. As a direct result of the defendant's failure to identify or control the risk of short circuit their employee suffered extensive burn injuries from the resulting explosion."
At City of London Magistrates' Court, Pineview Interiors Limited of Rainham, Havering, London, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined a total of £10,000 with costs of £4,183
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Katie Brown
SMPR (Simply Marcomms Ltd)
18 Generator Hall
Coventry
CV1 4JL
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