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Companies prosecuted after worker suffers life changing electrocution injuries (14 January 2016)

Date: 14/01/2016
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, Companies prosecuted after worker suffers life changing electrocution injuries

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted two companies, after a construction worker suffered life changing injuries when he received an electric shock from an overhead power line.

Work carried out by British Solar Renewables Limited (BSR) on 13 March 2013 involved the installation of a solar farm on a site at Knockworthy Farm, Great Torrington in Devon.

Agency worker Ashley Coe was working on site for subcontractor Pascon Limited and was part of a group of workers laying cables in a trench.

However, despite the high-risk work being undertaken, BSR failed to install goal posts and signage to warn of the presence of overhead power lines in the area.

An excavator being used for the task tracked underneath a 33kV overhead power line and struck the power line.

Mr Coe was helping to control a cable drum suspended from the arm of the excavator when the incident occurred.

As a result of the 33kV electric shock, Mr Coe suffered a life changing brain injury and had to be resuscitated by attending paramedics. The court heard he has been affected in many different ways.

As a result of his injuries, Mr Coe now suffers with short-term memory loss, has some mobility issues and now no longer feels pain. His speech has been affected and he has lost much of his independence. He is unlikely to ever work again.

The court heard two other workers received electric shocks, but escaped serious injury.

HSE found that subcontractor Pascon Limited had failed to assess the risks of working under the overhead power lines – and subsequently had not appropriately planned, managed and monitored the work in order that it could be carried out safely.

The HSE investigation concluded that the company was using an unsafe method of installing the cables in the trench, which ran underneath the overhead power lines.

On Friday, 8 January at Exeter Crown Court, principal contractor British Solar Renewables Limited of Higher Hill Farm, Butleigh Hill, Butleigh in Glastonbury, Somerset was charged with breaching Regulation 34(2) of the CDM Regulations 2007. The company was fined £250,000 and was ordered to pay full costs of £72,466.
Subcontractor Pascon Limited of Unit 1 Hayhead Farm, Longwood Lane in Walsall, West Midlands was fined £35,000 plus £25,000 contribution to costs, after admitting a breach of Regulation 13(2) of the CDM 2007.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector James Lucas said:

“This incident was entirely preventable – and arose from clear failures to plan, manage and monitor the work, and to ensure that the construction site was set up with appropriate measures to control the risks of working under overhead power lines.

“Luckily Mr Coe was resuscitated, but he now suffers from life changing complications due the electric shock he received.

“He was extremely close to losing his life and this is down to the failure of both construction companies involved in the work,” he added.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Electrocution Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who suffer injury as a result of electrocution caused by negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims involving:

• Accidents at work
• Construction accidents
• Holiday accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Faulty goods
• Public liability accidents.

Personal injury claims have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury.

Duncan Lewis can also advise bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of electrocution caused by negligence on how to make a no win no fee Fatal Injuries Claim.

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


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