Concrete breaking machine hits underground cables

Posted on January 12^th 2009

A London Borough Council has been ordered to pay a £15,000 fine and nearly £40,000 in legal costs after a worker was seriously burnt after striking undergoing cables whilst installing a lamppost.

The worker, who was employed by a lighting company, struck a high voltage electrical cable whilst operating a concrete breaking machine.

The case, which was investigated by The Health and Safety Executive, described the accident as dreadful. Neither the council nor the contractors had provided the worker with plans of the underground cables and he had not been supervised during the operation, which would have prevented this accident from ever occurring.

The workers employers were also fined £18,000 in negligence and nearly £15,000 in court fees.

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