Worker suffers shock from underground cable

Prosecutions and Claims |
09.07.2008

A construction worker suffered burns to his face and hand after picking up a termination box on a live cable thinking it was a piece of rubbish.

Mark Dougherty, an employee of Hogarth (Construction), was clearing an area of a site in East Yorkshire in September 2006 when he picked up a termination box on a live three-phase 400-volt cable.
 
Hogarth had been aware there were live underground cables at the site but hadn't told workers.

HSE inspector David Stewart said Dougherty was extremely fortunate to receive only superficial burns.

Hogarth admitted breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, for failing to adequately assess risks, and Regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations, for its failure to take measures to protect people working near live underground cables.

On 8 July at Beverley Crown Court the company was fined £4000 plus £1616 costs.

Guidance on working safely near underground cables is available on the HSE website.