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The dangers of working near electricity are many-fold but building site accidents can be prevented primarily through rigorous risk assessment and proper notification for workers.
When on a construction site all workers, especially sub-contractors and site visitors, must be made aware of the risks associated with power cables underground, in walls and overhead.
In February 2010, two construction firms working at a Doncaster building site were found guilty of serious health and safety breaches after a 66,000 volt surge of power endangered the lives of workers building a private road in a business park.
The building site accident occurred when a truck on the site raised its flat bed tipper and touched overhead power cables.
The current, which travelled through the truck, damaged hydraulics and pneumatics of nearby equipment and would have endangered workers' lives if any had been close enough. Luckily, the driver of the tipper truck had remained inside the cab and was unharmed by the electrical surge.
The building site accident was the third such incident involving electrical hazards at the site, but inspectors found no warning signs of overhead cables or height restriction posts on the site which led to the prosecution of the two firms.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector involved in the case said, "Had the driver left the vehicle when contact was made with the power line, it would almost certainly have proved fatal. Luckily, he remained in the vehicle and escaped."
The HSE publishes guidance notes on many aspects of work safety. Its Notes, no.GS6 Avoidance of Danger from Overhead Electrical Power Lines, provide direction for anyone who is responsible for work being carried out under or near to overhead, electricity carrying lines.
It holds particular relevance for workers in construction, agriculture and quarrying; covering work where high or long equipment, such as scaffold poles, tipper vehicles, cranes, irrigation equipment etc. are used near or under overhead lines and cables.
Making a building site accident claim for compensation with YouClaim
If you have suffered personal injury in a building site accident and you believe another party was at fault, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
The no win, no fee lawyers at YouClaim are all registered with the appropriate Law Society regulatory body for their field of litigation and amongst some of the most experienced and successful lawyers in the UK.
We ensure our claimants are treated with respect and sensitivity at all times, and insulate them from all legal costs, fees and disbursements, so you can truly be assured that our service is genuinely no win, no fee.
Call our helpline today to see if you would be eligible to make a building site accident compensation claim. Alternatively, you can e-chat or fill in an online claim form and we will call you back at a time to suit you.
