HSE Warns Of The Dangers From Live Electricity Cables

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned of the need to manage the risk from live electricity cables on construction sites after two workmen suffered serious burns after a cable explosion.

The warning follows the prosecution of SP Power Systems Ltd of Glasgow after Peter Mason was engulfed in flames and his colleague, Kieran Williams, thrown to the ground after one of them tripped and fell onto a live cable during construction work in Great George Street, Liverpool.


Mr Mason took the full force of the blast to his face and neck and had to run 40 metres out of the building in flames before being able to extinguish them in a puddle of rainwater. He was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital before being transferred to the specialist burns unit at Whiston Hospital.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that SP Power Systems Ltd had left the cable in a live condition for five months, but had failed to make it safe.

SP Power Systems Ltd pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety etc, Act 1974 Section 3 (1) that they failed to take reasonable steps so that persons not in their employment were not exposed to risks. They were fined £32,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 costs.

(CD/JM)