Firms warned over risk assessments and training

Businesses are being warned to ensure all workplace hazards have been risk-assessed and staff have been suitably trained to use equipment to protect their health and safety, after one local authority was fined for failing to do so

Dacorum borough council of civic centre, Hemel Hempstead was ordered to pay a total of £55,000 in fines and costs after a worker died due to inappropriate training.

Ben Richardson clamped an electric cable in the belief it was a water main, with the apparatus eventually rupturing and leading to the worker suffering a massive current of electricity through his body.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the system of work used to detect the water supply did not involve the use of a cable avoidance tool to safely detect electric currents.

Dacorum borough council was found guilty of breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Regulation 3(1) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Commenting, HSE inspector Trevor Morrow said other businesses must take steps to reduce the risk of harm to staff as far as is reasonably possible.

"I hope this tragic incident makes it clear to employers that they need to take positive steps to risk assess the obvious hazards involved with underground work … they must ensure that staff are properly trained in the use of detection equipment," he stated.

According to the HSE, more than 1,000 electrical accidents are reported each year and around 25 people die from their injuries.