Informa Markets

Author Bio ▼

Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) is first for independent health and safety news.
July 3, 2013

HSE inspection discovered firm’s failure to learn from cable strike

A property developer has admitted safety failings after a tipper lorry struck overhead power lines at a construction site in Northamptonshire.

The incident took place on 28 March last year when a lorry belonging to Hazelton Homes (Midlands) Ltd was delivering stone to a new housing development at Old Hall Close in Cottesmore, Kettering.

When the vehicle raised the tipper body it struck a set of overhead power lines, which fell to the ground. The strike caused a power cut to 11 nearby homes, which were without electricity for three hours. Nobody was hurt during the incident.

The HSE investigated the incident and found the firm had failed to make sure suitable warning signs for vehicles were in place. There were also no suspended protections erected to prevent vehicles striking the cables.

The investigation also found that two and a half weeks before the incident, the company’s quantity surveyor warned about the dangers of overhead power lines and the need for barriers and warning signs.

An HSE inspector returned to the site on 6 November, and found the warning signs, which were installed after the incident, had been removed. A goalpost, which warned of a height restriction for vehicles, and which had been erected across the road entrance of the site, was no longer in place. Without these measures there were no precautions in place to warn about collisions with the overhead lines.

HSE inspector Linda-Jane Rigby said: “This incident was entirely preventable and arose from a clear failure to assess and manage the risks associated with the presence of overhead power lines.

“The need for goalposts and warning signs had been drawn to the attention of Hazleton Homes (Midlands) Ltd shortly before this incident, but the directors failed to put the necessary measures in place. Once remedial steps were taken, the company failed to ensure they remained in place.”

Hazelton Homes appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 2 July and pleaded guilty to breaching reg.4(2)(c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. It was fined £8000 with costs of £4214.

The Safety Conversation Podcast: Listen now!

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!

Related Topics

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
john gamble
john gamble
11 years ago

reg.4(2)(c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 – See more at: https://www.shponline.co.uk/home/in-court/full/hse-inspection-discovered-firm%E2%80%99s-failure-to-learn-from-cable-strike#comments

Razor
Razor
11 years ago

This company deserved a far bigger fine. Clearly it hadn’t learned from the incident as it once again removed the safety precautions. An £8k fine is nothing compared to the level of the failings here.