Scaffolder suffers 11,000 volt shock after tube hits power line

Grant Prior 1 year ago
Share

A Kent scaffolding company has been fined and its director given a suspended prison sentence after a scaffolder suffered an 11,000-volt electric shock.

Steven Gilmore, 36, was working for contractor Canterbury City Scaffolding Ltd alongside a small team of scaffolders, to erect a temporary roof scaffold at an open-air drinks depot in Snow Hill, Crawley, West Sussex.

Canterbury City Scaffolding Ltd had been contracted by Drinks Warehouse UK Ltd to erect the temporary roof structure over its open-air depot in order to provide shelter for operations during the winter months.

On 29 November 2021 the father-of-one struck a live 11kV power line running across the site while lifting a six-metre scaffold tube. He then fell over five meters to the ground suffering a badly broken leg. Gilmore sustained life-changing electrical burns to both hands, which he will never regain full use of.

An HSE investigation found that Canterbury City Scaffolding Ltd and its director had failed to ensure the high-risk temporary roof scaffold assembly job near a high voltage line was properly risk assessed.

The investigation also highlighted that, despite being fully aware of how close the temporary roof scaffold was being built to the 11kV line, no attempt was made by the scaffold contractor or its director to consult UK Power Networks (Network Operator) about line voltage and safe clearance distances.

While directing the scaffold assembly works on site himself, the director allowed his team of scaffolders to use six-metre-long metal scaffold tubes at near vertical angles within striking distance of the high voltage line without any precautions to prevent injury.

At an earlier hearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court Canterbury City Scaffolding Ltd pleaded guilty to safety breaches as did irector, Ian Pepper, 48, of Hoath near Canterbury.

The week the company was fined £50,000 and Pepper was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to undertake 200 hours unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, HSE Inspector Susie Beckett said: “This scaffolder’s injuries were life-changing and could have been fatal.

“This incident could have been avoided if this high-risk scaffold job had been properly planned, including seeking free advice from the Network Operator on what precautions to take, and then implementing those well-established precautions to prevent accidental contact with the overhead line.”

Latest news

Fraudsters jailed after £22m construction tax scam

Gang sentenced after bogus payroll firm failed to pay VAT and CIS money to revenue
1 hour ago

MPB clinches substructure for HS2 Curzon Street station

Contracts for station superstructure to be let in coming months
17 hours ago

Flood defence spend rises to record £2.65bn over two-years

Key projects mapped as Government injects extra £250m to shore up defences
29 mins ago

Turnaround strategy continues to pay off for Careys

Profits continue to rise as £50m investment plan in full swing
18 hours ago

All change on £800m Eastern Highways Alliance

Octavius and Winvic sweep up all three lots in new line-up
28 mins ago

Vinci bags first phase of £350m Stockport scheme

Contractor edges-out Willmott Dixon to start major mixed-used project
18 hours ago

Crest Nicholson slumps to £144m loss

Incoming CEO review unearths further writedowns on fire remediation and closed divisions
1 day ago

Piling job cuts loom over safety regulator project delays

Bottleneck in high rise project approvals hits demolition and foundation firms
2 days ago

Developer Ghelamco swaps to self delivery for Battersea tower

John F Hunt no longer part of project team on 24-storey resi scheme
2 days ago

Pagabo starts renewal race for two mega frameworks

Contractors and developers asked for input on reshaping deals worth billions
1 day ago

Giant HS2 viaduct deck slide breaks records: Video

EKFB consortium oversees four-day installation
1 day ago

Ferrovial lands £230m National Grid tunnel

Work to start shortly on Grain to Tilbury electricity infrastructure upgrade
2 days ago

Tax-row tunnellers down tools on Balfour Hinkley job

Lodge allowance tax dispute hits tunnelling site
2 days ago

Go-ahead for Square Mile’s fifth tallest tower

Multiplex set to start 99 Bishopsgate job late next year
2 days ago

New £4.5bn funding model for stalled London rail schemes

Residential TIF funding offers key to unlock Bakerloo and DLR extensions
2 days ago

Speedy Hire latest to be hit by slow CP7 rail spending

Plant-hire firm flags issues with latest Network Rail spending round
2 days ago

FM Conway family chair steps away from business after Vinci deal

Joanne Conway steps away as Andrew Hansen becomes MD
2 days ago

Manchester Hotspur Press mill scheme rescued

37-storey student tower will now go-ahead
2 days ago

Watkin Jones to advance 260-room London aparthotel

Development deal for New Kent Road project
4 days ago

Plan for film studios switched to data centre cluster

Plans in for six data centre buildings in Buckinghamshire
6 days ago

Hunt for firm to deliver £75m Cambridge Civic Quarter

Work includes £41m Guildhall and £21m Corn Exchange revamps
5 days ago

Plans in for £200m Middlesbrough regen scheme

Wates is lined up to deliver landmark Gresham rental homes scheme
5 days ago

£600m Bristol shopping centre redevelopment approved

Galleries centre will be demolished for homes and offices quarter
5 days ago

Ant Yapi lands ultra prime London homes job

Prestige scheme replicates Regency mansions around nearby Regent’s Park
5 days ago

CITB survives another review

Report published after two more years talking about skills crisis
6 days ago

Strucktor wins record M&E package from Ardmore

Major subcontract on £240m Tribeca life science development
5 days ago

Over 800 high-rise resi jobs stalled by safety regulator

Building safety regulator project logjam hits Government growth plan
6 days ago

McAlpine under fire after another panel comes loose from hotel

High winds cause more problems at recently completed Woking hotel
7 days ago

McGee starts demolition for £500m South Bank scheme

Former ITV studios will be replaced by two office towers
6 days ago

Four arrested after hospital construction site burglary

Damage and copper wiring stolen at Hinckley and District General Hospital new building
7 days ago

Contractor services