Electrical engineer killed in explosion

Grant Prior 12 years ago
Share

An electrical engineer was killed at a substation in Chelmsford in May 2008 when a device he was working on for manually adjusting voltage ratios, known as a transformer tap changer, exploded.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that the explosion caused a fire at the substation.

John Higgins, 59, from Colchester died at the scene despite the arrival of Essex Fire and Rescue within minutes of the alarm being raised by staff from nearby Anglia Ruskin University.

The incident also blacked out a large part of Chelmsford, including Broomfield Hospital.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that UK Power Networks had failed to properly assess work with tap changers and to devise procedures for the work. It had also failed to adequately train employees for carrying out this task.

UK Power Networks has since introduced revised procedures to safeguard staff.

UK Power Networks (Operations) Limited was fined £275,000 with £145,000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to safety breaches.

After sentencing HSE Inspector Steven Gill said: “John Higgins lost his life in tragic circumstances that could have been avoided had this activity had been properly assessed and managed by UK Power Networks.

“His death illustrates how dangerous work on or near electrical distribution networks can be, and how imperative it is that employers – large or small – ensure that all activities involving high voltage electrical equipment are properly assessed and that safe systems of work in place.

“There is no room for error or complacency when working with high voltage equipment.”

Latest news

Construction T Level scrapped due to lack of demand

Courses canned after less than 100 sign-up for latest round
3 hours ago

Bid rigging probe launched into school repair work

Firms raided this week with focus on roofing contracts
1 day ago

McLaren hires ex-ISG regional boss for north east expansion

Andrew Beaumont becomes MD of new Yorkshire and North East business
11 hours ago

Government commits to four new prisons in seven years

£2.3bn pledged for new prison build programme
1 day ago

Road and rail delays hit revenue at Van Elle

Turnover drops 5% as markets remain challenging for piling specialist
11 hours ago

Boot reports ‘noticeable improvement’ in planning system

Government planning reforms already unblocking council planning
11 hours ago

Go-ahead to revamp former London city hall

Project will straighten the building's leaning profile with terraces to every level
19 hours ago

United Living to divert Midlands gas pipeline

600m pipeline diversion clears way for M54 to M6 link road construction
10 hours ago

Credit insurance saves Billington from ISG hit

Steel specialist puts on extra shifts at its plants to cope with demand
1 day ago

M&E specialist Dodd doubles profit on retrofit surge

Family-owned Telford specialist delivers record revenue of nearly £250m
1 day ago

Go-ahead for 800-home Croydon dual towers

One Lansdowne Road build to rent scheme to cost £260m to build
1 day ago

Construction inflation set to return raising tender prices

End of 2024 to mark the bottom of present inflationary trough
1 day ago

Start date for vast Balfour and Costain carbon capture power job

£4bn Teesside project to start construction next year creating 3,000 jobs
2 days ago

Plans go in to start revamp of North Finchley town centre

Developer Regal unveils first details of Barnet masterplan
1 day ago

Glencar bags £18m Big Yellow London store

Six-storey stoarage centre to be built at Staples Corner
1 day ago

Plan unveiled for 31-storey London Fenchurch Street tower

Demolition work to start in 2026 for new office tower
2 days ago

Vinci Building buys tower cranes for first time

Contractor invests in two WOLFFKRAN all-electric cranes at £138m Sheffield site
2 days ago

30 local firms land United Utilities £500m framework

Minor works deal win for North West civils and M&E specialists
2 days ago

Restructure pays off as Higgins returns to profit

Housing contractor recovers from £25.9m loss last year
2 days ago

Former Heathrow boss joins Mace in board rejig

Firm completes string NED appointments to expanded group board
3 days ago

Planning officers to get powers to bypass committee stage for housing

Rayner reform plan to cut out local council planning committees
3 days ago

National Insurance hike to delay construction recovery

Arcadis paints varied picture with full recovery delayed until 2026
3 days ago

Gratte Bros rides out cost rises with profit increase

M&E specialist warns of further upward pressure on wage costs
3 days ago

Sellar’s 36-storey London City office tower approved

Demolition work to start in 2026 at 60 Gracechurch Street site
5 days ago

Roofers caught using phone lights to work at night

Roofing boss handed suspended prison sentence for lack of edge protection
3 days ago

£380m North West housing framework out for bid

St Helens-based Torus aims to build 9,000 homes by 2029
3 days ago

Historic property magazine to close

Estates Gazette has been in business since 1858
6 days ago

M&S Marble Arch rebuild approved after three-year planning fight

Plans were delayed when Michael Gove backed carbon campaigners
1 week ago

£191m revamp funding approved for London Barbican Centre

Construction to start in 2027 on five-year programme
7 days ago

RED Construction tops £100m turnover

Builder maintains profit margin at 1.7% as business nearly doubles in size
6 days ago

Contractor services