Michelle Farrell of Thompson Solicitors has raised the issue of the urgent need for proper electrical maintenance in workplaces to guarantee that no accidents take place due to faulty and defective equipment.
She spoke out in the context of the tragic accident that a worker, Mr. Anthony Briars met with while digging a hole in the pavement for the installation of street lamps in September 2006. He had not been warned to exercise extreme caution while checking wires, which is a highly unsafe job, and the plans of the area he was working in had not been provided to him. The work equipment he was using turned out to be faulty, and he was electrocuted, leading to a loss of vision for several days. His face, arm and forearm too were badly burnt and ever since this mishap occurred, he has been suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mr. Briars has recently won compensation for his injuries.
Ray Short of UNISON, Mr. Briars’ union, condemned the tragic event, calling it frightful. He also said that it could have been avoided had necessary safety measures been followed.
He emphasised the fact that businesses should adhere to the health and safety norms and ensure that all their equipment is in perfect working order and in good repair to eliminate chances of such tragic accidents.
Employers need to keep themselves up to date with health and safety developments to avoid potential legal action from employers by taking a health and safety courses such as the nebosh certificate courses available from Workplace Law Training.
The incident proves how important it is for businesses to safeguard their workers by keeping their equipment in proper condition.
