- Nothing to pay
- No deductions from your compensation
- Access to UK's leading personal injury solicitors
- Excellent claim success rate
- Friendly, supportive and genuine staff
- Impartial legal advice without any cost or commitment
This requires Flash
Overhead power lines and accidents.
Many employees in the UK carry out their work underneath electricity power lines but are not trained to recognize the dangers of electrocution if their tools or vehicles are used in the vicinity of an overhead power line.
Workers in the electricity industry are highly trained to recognize electrical hazards, but workers in other industries may not be. Agricultural workers, lorry drivers, decorators and tree surgeons often work in the vicinity of power lines and, due to their lack of training, it is these workers who are involved in most of the high voltage electrocutions in the UK.
Some examples of recent electricity work-accidents include:
- A painter moving an aluminium ladder received a fatal electric shock when the ladder contacted a 13,000 volt power line
- A carpenter in a scissor lift was measuring the dimensions of a roof when he was electrocuted by a 72,000 volt power line.
- A cement lorry driver was electrocuted when the lorry contacted a power line while transferring cement to another lorry.
- A tree surgeon was electrocuted when a branch he had just severed touched a high voltage power line as he was removing it.
Preventing electrocution from power lines
All employees should be trained to recognise the dangers of working near overhead power lines and should locate all power lines before work commences. Safe working distances should be maintained at all times. A 10 feet distance should be maintained at all times and if the voltage level is over 50,000 volts the distance should be at least 20ft. Power utility companies should be contacted before work commences if it is necessary. A trained spotter should be assigned to assist the operator of equipment near power lines if it is difficult for the operator to judge the safe distance. Electronic warning devices can be installed on machinery to warn the operator if they are getting too close to a power line.
Employers in the UK should report all work-related accidents, diseases, dangerous incidents, deaths and major injuries. An accident at work should also be recorded in the employer's accident book.
