Prosecutions
Worker Falls from roof after electric shock - charge under Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
21/10/2009
Worker falls from roof after electric shock. Three companies fined a total of £57,500. Three employers were prosecuted recently after a worker received an electric shock and fell from the roof upon which we was working.
The employee was working on the construction site of a poultry shed situated directly under an 11kV overhead line at a farm in Wales. The employee was carrying metal roofing material which came into close proximity or contact with the power line.
The electric shock resulted in burns to his body, he collapsed, and rolled off the roof falling to the ground 2.5 metres below.
Three employers all pleaded guilty to one charge each under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 during a hearing at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on 14 August.
The principal contractor for the job was a firm located in Derbyshire, they were fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,408.40.
A Leicestershire based firm were the building supplier and contractor for the erector of the building, they were fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6171.60.
The father of the employee, was subcontracted to build the shed, and was fined £12,000, plus costs of £2,062.40.
The investigating inspector from the HSE commented:
“Despite his injuries, the employee was fortunate to survive a shock from an 11kV overhead power line, let alone the subsequent fall from the shed roof.
“This incident was entirely avoidable. There should have been thorough risk assessments carried out by the employers in this case, and suitable precautions taken.
“There was also no edge protection around the edge of the roof, so there was clearly a much higher risk of falls from height.”
The electric shock resulted in burns to his body, he collapsed, and rolled off the roof falling to the ground 2.5 metres below.
Three employers all pleaded guilty to one charge each under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 during a hearing at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on 14 August.
The principal contractor for the job was a firm located in Derbyshire, they were fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,408.40.
A Leicestershire based firm were the building supplier and contractor for the erector of the building, they were fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6171.60.
The father of the employee, was subcontracted to build the shed, and was fined £12,000, plus costs of £2,062.40.
The investigating inspector from the HSE commented:
“Despite his injuries, the employee was fortunate to survive a shock from an 11kV overhead power line, let alone the subsequent fall from the shed roof.
“This incident was entirely avoidable. There should have been thorough risk assessments carried out by the employers in this case, and suitable precautions taken.
“There was also no edge protection around the edge of the roof, so there was clearly a much higher risk of falls from height.”