Contractor’s death sparks renewed warnings and the publication of guidelines about the proper manual handling of top heavy electrical equipment on site.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning about the danger of handling top-heavy electrical equipment. This follows the verdict of accidental death of an electrical contractor who was killed in August 2001 when an electrical panel fell on him.

The contractor, Cormac Nordon, a director of Anord Control Systems (UK), died when a top-heavy electrical panel toppled over on to him while he was installing it in a building in Canary Wharf, London. The accident happened as he and a fellow operative attempted to remove timber bearers from beneath the electrical panel. Before they could lower the panel to the floor it fell backwards onto Nordon. He died from severe head injuries.

Andrew Beal of the HSE said: “This inquest emphasises that those involved with the design, manufacture, selection and installation of heavy electrical equipment should consider carefully the risks from overturning during transportation and manual handling. The risk of overturn can be particularly high where internal equipment has been installed near the top, giving [the equipment] a high centre of gravity.”

Steps that should be taken to reduce this risk include:

  • specifying equipment in which heavy internal components such as busbars have been installed at low level, and which includes suitable jacking points, bottom-located lift points or top-fixed lifting eyes/lugs;
  • the attachment by manufacturers/suppliers of warning signs and the provision of information on suitable methods of handling;
  • avoiding manual handling wherever possible, especially if there is risk of sudden movement or loss of control leading to an unstable position;
  • the use of suitable mechanical handling aids to minimise the risk of overturn.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor