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£615,000 penalty after worker sustains serious burn injuries following electrocution (13 March 2017)

Date: 13/03/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, £615,000 penalty after worker sustains serious burn injuries following electrocution

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted an Oxford-based company, after a worker sustained serious burns following electrocution from contact with a live underground cable.

Council contractor Amey LG Limited asked a subcontractor to carry out work to replace the traffic light pole. The injured worker was employed by said subcontractor.

On 29 May 2015, the unnamed 61-year-old man was working on site trying to replace the traffic light pole when he came into contact with a live underground cable, which immediately gave him the electric shock and set him on fire.

The man received burns to his to hands, arms, stomach, face, legs and chest.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that, although this was the first time this particular group of individuals worked on an Amey project, principal contractor Amey did not provide adequate information on the location of underground services in the area.

The inquiry also found that Amey’s supervision of the work was not adequate and the company had not properly managed the risks from the underground services.

At Gloucester Crown Court, Amey LG Limited of Edmund Halley Road in Oxford pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 25 (4) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

The company was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,498.

After the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Helena Tinton said:

“This man suffered life changing injuries as a result of this incident – he’s not been able to return to work, he still can’t use his hands properly and has been left both physically and mentally scarred by what happened.

“Had Amey given adequate information to the team working on site – and had Amey ensured the work was properly planned and supervised – this incident could have been avoided.

“This case should act as a reminder to local authorities and their contractors of the risks of working underground and the danger of severe electric shocks.”


Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who suffer burn injuries as a result of negligence on how to make a no win no fee compensation claim – including claims relating to:

  • Accidents at work
  • Children’s accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Criminal injuries
  • Holiday accidents and illness
  • Industrial accidents and illness
  • Military accidents
  • Public liability accidents
  • Road traffic accidents.

  • Burn injury claims have to be made within three years of injury – children can claim compensation for burn injuries up to the age of 21.

    For expert legal advice on no win no fee Burn Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

    Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
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