02/02/2011 - Workman suffers electric shock
A lack of safety checks and inadequate supervision left a 52-year-old worker nursing serious burns from a 11,000 volt electric shock.
Stephen Edwards, a high voltage-cable jointer from Bristol, was connecting wiring at a site in Stroud when the accident occurred.
He had been told the connection box on which he was working had been earthed and isolated, and was also instructed to open the wrong box.
The 11,000 volt shock left Mr Edwards with severe burns on his chest, arms and hands. He has not been able to work since the injuries were sustained.
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive investigated the accident and found that the company responsible, Powersystems UK, had allowed Mr Edwards to work on the wiring without checking it was not live.
The firm also failed to provide Mr Edwards with protective equipment, especially flameproof overalls, and did not carry out a risk assessment for the work.
Powersystems also failed to pass on detailed information about the wiring or ensure Mr Edwards's on-site supervisor had enough knowledge about the system being worked on.
The Yate-based company was fined £5,000 and told to pay costs of £8,000 for breaking section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Copyright © Press Association 2011
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