January 6th, 2009 by Administrator

The untimely death of a 26-year-old Edinburgh electrician back in the summer of 2005 has brought renewed warnings from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that companies must operate under safe working practices especially when there is a possibility of employees coming into contact with live electricity cables.

That was the situation that Michael Adamson found himself in while working at Edinburgh based Mitie Engineering Services three years ago. He simply came into contact with a live cable which was carrying sufficient power to cause his death.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted an investigation and as a result the company found itself in court facing charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. In the dock were a project manager and two company directors who along with the judge heard evidence that Mr Adamson was labouring at a shop in the Gallagher Retail Park located in Dundee working on cable installation.

Tragically he touched a cable which had been marked ‘not in use’ but in fact was carrying power and had not been isolated from the building’s main supply. The company were fined a total of £300,000 by the Dundee Sheriff Court in relation to the incident.

Don’t let you employees or your company fall victim to such avoidable incidents, make sure you are fully conversant with all regulations by visiting Workplace Law and finding out about their IOSH courses.

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