A property firm has been fined for safety failings after a self-employed builder suffered first and third degree burns while on site
Safety failings have seen a real estate lettings company receive a fine. IPH Investments Ltd was handed a penalty of £53,000 after a self-employed builder sustained significant burns to his face, hands, neck, and chest in October 2015.
The 50-year-old worker suffered an electric shock during works taking place at a site in Harrogate. The premise, which was being converted into a sunbed and beauty salon, had a higher than normal electricity supply. Domestic dwellings use 240v, but the supply for the property was feeding both the shop and residential flats above so had 400v.
As part of the job some preparatory work involved excavating a small trench in the hallway of the site to install the new electricity supply. However, during this process, the worker struck the existing live service cable with the hand-held breaker he was using.
Firm received £53,000 fine for safety failings
IPH Investments Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £53,000.00 with £654.60 costs by Leeds Magistrates Court.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Jayne Towey said: “This case was entirely preventable if the company had carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment before work began.
“The company could have used a cable avoidance tool (CAT) before any digging was carried out. This would have helped to locate the buried electrical service.”
