The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has called on companies in Britain to ensure that they follow safe working practices when using mechanical equipment.A recent prosecution of a local authority following an incident in which a worker received severe burns has prompted the HSE warning.
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £39,089 at the City of London Magistrates Court, while contractor T Cartledge of Chelmsford, Essex, was fined £18,000 with costs of £14,555 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Janet Seggery, HSE investigating inspector, commented: "This is a dreadful case where the employer had failed to provide plans of underground electrical cables."
Martin Rose, an employee of T Cartledge, was operating a mechanical breaker in October 2005 when he hit an electrical cable and suffered severe burns.
The HSE recently cautioned the construction industry after a contractor was fined following an incident in which an employee fell more than three metres inside an apartment block, sustaining multiple serious injuries.
