Truro Crown Court has sentenced a farmer and his employee to four years in jail, over the death of a contractor who was electrocuted when his ladder touched an overhead power cable.
Roger Matthews and his employee Norman Treseder were found to be “grossly negligent” following the death of 33-year-old Jason Morgan, from Bristol, who died while working at Great Brynn Barton Farm near Roche, Cornwall in June 2011.
Mr Morgan was installing safety netting on a barn extension on a work site described as “a death trap” during the trial.
Judge Graham Cottle told Mr Matthews: “You knew the only safe way was to bury the overhead power line. Western Power Distribution told you what was necessary but you ignored it.
“You didn’t want the inconvenience of putting the work back. Your stance was hope that everything would be alright.
“The site was a potential death trap and remained so despite repeated warnings.”
The court heard the cost of burying the 11,000 volt power line would have been more than £15,000.
The sentences were as follows:
Speaking to Mr Matthews, Judge Cottle concluded: “You failed in your duty of care to anyone who worked on the project.
“A life was needlessly lost that day.”
The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.
Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!
