Electrocutions, Prosecutions and Fines
Learning the lessons
Around 25 people die of their injuries from electrical accidents at work and around a 1,000 electrical accidents are reported to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) every year. Due to the many cases of injury related to electricity in the workplace each year the HSE does not hesitate to take action where there is the risk of serious harm to people at work involving electricity.
Some examples:
A company was recently fined for safety failings after an employee suffered an electric shock, sustaining open wounds to his forearm and left palm and burns to his left arm and knee. He was hospitalised for 12 days and was unable to return to work for four months as a result.
The company was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £5,400 in costs after admitting to breaching the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 in relation to the incident.
An investigation by the HSE found that the company had failed to impose adequate safe working procedures relating to the operation, use and maintenance of the electrical system or work near it. The company was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £5,400 in costs after admitting to breaching the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 in relation to the incident.
In a different case, an employee sustained a 240 volt electric shock and broke both shoulders whilst attempting to test a newly manufactured appliance that had been incorrectly wired to the mains lead. Suitable precautions had not been taken to prevent injury to employees engaged in testing work on electrical appliances.
The employers were prosecuted and fined under The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
Another employer appeared in court after two of his employees suffered facial burns. The company had been replacing a temporary generator for the landing stage at a ferry terminal with a permanent mains supply. The work had gone ahead while electrical system was still live. When the workers tried to install a new fuse, there was a bright flash and an intense heat caused by a fire, lasting just seconds.
One worker received severe burns to his face and hands, and required treatment to remove debris from his eyes. The other worker needed four days in hospital after suffering severe burns. Both still needed three months off work to recover.
The employer admitted a breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £4,766 in prosecution costs
The employer was prosecuted by the HSE after an investigation found electrical work had been allowed to go ahead without the power being cut. The employer admitted a breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £4,766 in prosecution costs.
The HSE targets workplaces for inspection according to criteria based on a history of previous accidents, complaints made, the activities being undertaken, type of equipment installed or simply as part of a campaign to reduce a specific type of accident.
This targeting allows electrical inspectors to focus on the workplaces, industries and work types that cause the greatest number of injuries. The actions arising from inspections vary. They may range from a discussion of issues of concern and the provision of advice, to the serving of improvement or prohibition notices, to the initiation of proceedings against the company or individual.
Should concerns regarding the safety of equipment arise, the electrical inspector would contact the supplier or manufacturer, and in some cases prohibit the supply of that equipment within the UK, pending resolution of the problem. Where a safety concern extends beyond the UK border, the electrical inspector would notify the relevant authorities.
Information on electrical safety is available at www.hse.gov.uk/electricity[2].
To find out more contact
Paul Venter
Health & Safety Consultant