Prosecutions

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

The worker was using a hand held mini breaker to dig through concrete in an alleyway 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 company, 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.

A HSE Inspector 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 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."