The London Borough of Hackney has been fined following an accident that saw an operative injured while changing a lamp in a street light.
The worker received an electric shock that threw him from his ladder, knocking him unconscious. He was in a coma for two days. The man’s workmate, who was steadying the ladder, also received a shock but was able to administer artificial respiration to his injured colleague.
Inspectors in the case found that the men had not been instructed in the process of switching off the light using the isolator switch at its base; they did not know how to carry out a risk assessment; and, the live and neutral wires in the light had previously been reversed.
The council was prosecuted under section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and fined £10 000, with £11 286 costs.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
