A construction firm based in Flixborough in North Lincolnshire has been fined a total of £13,000 after a worker sustained serious injuries after drilling through an underground cable.
26-year-old Richard Baisley, from Scunthorpe, had been told to dig two holes for a new sign to be placed outside Kim Barker Construction Ltd, where he worked. He and his colleague began the work, but halted after Mr Baisley’s drill went through concrete and hit an underground 415 volt cable. The whereabouts of the cable had not been established before work began.
As a result of the incident, which caused an electrical explosion, Mr Baisley sustained bad burns to his face, chest, arms and hands.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident and found that Kim Barker Construction Ltd had breached the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989). The company was fined £13,000 plus £2,039 in court costs.
It is not known whether Mr Baisley, who was unable to return to work due to his injuries, will pursue his employer for compensation. If he does, the company will need to rely on employers’ liability insurance to cover any damages he demands.