18/11/2010 - Firm fined after worker injured
A construction worker suffered second degree burns to his face and neck when he cut through a power cable, leading to a prosecution and fine for the company he worked for.
The man, who has asked not to be named, sustained the serious injury when he struck an 11kv cable under the pavement on April 29, last year, when he was using a mini breaker to dig through concrete in an alleyway at Smith Street, Warwick.
The injuries caused the man to be off work for five weeks.
A £1 fine was levied on the former employers of the man, The Magna Heating Company Limited, which is no longer trading after it went into liquidation. At Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court, the company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
The company had failed to take sufficient steps to protect its staff from the threat posed by underground cables, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) probe found.
HSE inspector Paul Cooper 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 Magna Heating Company should have given clear instructions to its workers, provided a method statement before undertaking the work and obtained plans of site services."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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