Siemens Energy was fined 拢900,000 and VolkerInfra 拢180,000.
Manchester Magistrates鈥� Court heard how VolkerInfra Ltd, a specialist high voltage cabling contractor, had been subcontracted by principal contractor Siemens Energy to carry out cabling works as part of a wider construction project at Whitegate substation in Chadderton, Manchester.
On the 17th September 2019, an employee of VolkerInfra, who was excavating phases for laying a 275kV cable, struck a live cable with the excavator. The contact resulted in multiple explosions, which caused blistering to the driver鈥檚 retina.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the permit to dig had not been properly completed by Siemens Energy. It was also found that neither Siemens nor VolkerInfra had checked the cable markings before starting work . The existing live cable had not been adequately identified and so the markings for the cable location were incorrect by around 50cm.聽 It was also found there had been inadequate monitoring and supervision of work.
Siemens Energy Ltd of Faraday House, Sir William Siemens Square, Camberley, Surrey pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the 今日看料 Design and Management Regulations 2015 and Section 3 (1) Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined 拢900,000 and ordered to pay costs of 拢6,327.52.
Volkerinfra Ltd of Hertford House, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 3 (1) Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined 拢180,000 and ordered to pay costs of 拢6,430.72.
HSE inspector Rebecca Vaudrey said after the hearing: 鈥淭hose in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.鈥�
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