Fine for electrical incident a warning to facilities management firms?
October 26th 17:26 Health and Safety
The importance of adequate health and safety procedures in the facilities management sector has been highlighted by the fining of one firm by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Following an accident in which a worker was burned while working near live power cables, Ineos Manufacturing Scotland was fined £1,500 for breaching the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, something facilities management firms carrying out electrical maintenance will wish to avoid.
An employee of the company suffered injury after hitting two live cables while conducting excavation work and HSE inspector Dr Heather Gates noted that the incident could have been easily prevented.
"I hope this case will remind companies how important it is for electrical work to be properly planned and implemented," she remarked, adding that failing to do so can put workers' lives at risk.
Earlier this month, a warning was issued by the HSE over the dangers of working at height after a company was penalised for failing to prevent an incident in which an employee fell from the first floor of a building.
