Demolition Worker Injured after Health and Safety Breach
Two companies have found themselves fined for endangering a demolition worker. The worker was ordered to cut through an 11,000-volt cable at a substation for electricity. The employee was told the electricity connection to the cable was cut so that he could cut the cable without any danger. Unfortunately, the 35 year old found out differently when he cut the cable and found himself in flames.
Two companies were prosecuted because of health and safety issues. DSM Demolition and Halesowen were found guilty of the charges brought against them for the 2006 case. The Worcester Crown Court heard the case this week. They listened to accounts of what happened, including the fact that the cable was still live though it was supposed to be turned off.
The worker suffered from 20% burns. This left him with skin grafts and permanent disabilities. The health and safety audits showed that the planning supervisor and the contractor did not make the proper checks needed to ensure that the electricity was indeed cut. GSA told DSM that the services were terminated and that the power supply was not live. DSM should have double-checked this information before the cut to the cable was made. It was both companies’ responsibilities. This is why more than £140,000 in fines and costs will be charged for both companies. The breach of safety and health was based on Section 2 of the 1974 act meant to protect workers.
