Government Concern over Electrical Work Accidents

Published on Sep 27

Health and Safety officials have voiced their concern after two electrical accidents at work have hit the headlines.

A fast food shop in Levenshulme, Greater Manchester has been ordered to pay a large fine after their ‘dangerous wiring’ was endangering their own staff, customers and a neighbouring store.

Council inspectors also found a mouse and cockroach infestation. They condemned the company’s lack of concern for Health and Safety law. The fast food outlet has been fined almost £10,000 for their dangerous safety practices.

Farmyard pylon collision
In Norfolk, the farming community has expressed anger about electrical dangers in the workplace. A farm worker narrowly avoided a serious electrocution after his tractor collided with power cables.

The worker avoided fatal injury by sitting in the tractor and not leaving the vehicle. The 11Kv cables carried enough electricity to cause a lethal work accident.

Farm safety campaigner Mark Fisher spoke to the press about the danger of high voltage electrical equipment on farmyards and food production lines.

“The young man had a lucky escape, only his common sense saved him from almost certain death. Farms are dangerous places and working out of doors makes high voltage electrocution a serious risk.

Many farm workers have English as a second language, and reading safety signs can be hard for them. Farm owners need to ensure that Health and Safety procedures are being followed, including correct training for all farm workers, even if they are only on temporary contracts. “

Electrical safety in the workplace has long been a concern of the UK government. Despite strict regulations such as the Health and Safety at Work Act and PAT testing of electrical appliances, electrocution remains a leading cause of fatal work accidents.