Building Firms Fined after Scaffolder Burnt by Power Cables (1 Viewer)

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning builders to be careful when working near overhead power cables after a scaffolder was seriously injured on a site in Worcestershire.

The injured man suffered burns to 52 per cent of his body and had to have his heart re-started, when the metal tube he was carrying came into contact with power lines.

Three separate charges were laid in relation to the incident on 12 November 2007. Manor Homes (Midlands) Ltd, based in Redditch, Worcestershire pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £11,985 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs in Redditch Magistrates Court.

G. Wright Scaffolding Ltd, in Redditch, was fined £5,985 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs after pleading guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The Director of G. Wright Scaffolding Ltd, Gary Wright was also fined £5,985 and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs after pleading guilty to section 2(1) by virtue of section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The court heard how three workers arrived at the site at Callow Hill Lane, Redditch to dismantle scaffolding. The injured man Ian Maxwell, 39, from Redditch, was removing a 6 metre guard rail, 4 metres above the ground, when it made contact with the 66,000 volt overhead cable.

The worker was removed from the scaffold platform by firemen and flown to hospital where he was treated for serious burns and other injuries.

The electricity cable was charred at the point of contact, while the galvanised steel tube also had drips of zinc along its length where it had melted.

Source: Safety Media
 
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