RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OVERHEAD POWER LINES - It could have resulted in a needless death!!
Luckily or unluckily as it may seem to the companies involved a total fine of £130,000.00 was issued. Maybe we all need to raise awareness that TRAINING and ADVICE is out there...
Two companies, a director and a sub-contractor have been fined a total of £130,000 for health and safety failings after a construction worker suffered serious burns following an electric shock from an overhead power cable.
A Self-employed steel erecter was constructing two new poultry units in Bedfordshire. He was using a scissor lift to clad the gable end of a steel frame when it came into contact with a power cable and he suffered an 11,000 volts electrical shock. The erector sustained burns to his stomach and hands, and internal muscle damage in the incident.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) charged a number of parties after its subsequent investigation found the gable end of the structure was within just 4.3m of an overhead power line.
HSE informed the court that the defendants failed to indentify the potential risks of working near overhead voltage lines and had not put necessary precautions in place, including notifying the relevant authorities.
For more information regarding this article please go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-e-2411.htm
KNW Training offers training (accreditated by Lantra Awards) on scissor lift equipment in addition to many other types of plant equipment which would involve assessing risk such as overhead cables - for more information please contact us on 01677 424 633.
HSE offer advice on how to work safely near overhead power lines. Please follow the link below for further information.
