Food Company Fined After Worker Electrocuted | Health & Safety

Food company fined after worker electrocuted

Key Facts: 

• A 21-year-old worker was electrocuted after coming into contact with live cabling in a food company’s loft.
• He was pronounced dead at the scene by the ambulance crew.
• The food company was  fined £170,000 and ordered to pay costs of £35,403.

The Case: 

An HSE investigation was launched into the practices of a food company after a worker was killed after contact with a live electrical cable.

A 21-year-old worker was working in the loft space of the food company when he came into contact with a live electrical cable and was electrocuted. The ambulance crew pronounced him dead at the scene.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that the cable was part of an old system that had been removed, but was not identified in any way, nor was its existence known by the company. There had been plenty of opportunity for the redundant cables to be made safe, but it had been assumed that they were not live. Had there been safe systems of work in place, this would have been identified and controlled, and the death of the worker could have been avoided.

The case was heard at Chichester Crown Court where the firm pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £170,000 and ordered to pay costs of £35,403.

What the law states: 

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 states:

“It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”

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