Employers Urged To Meet Safety Responsibilities

A Scunthorpe construction firm has been fined £13,000 and ordered to pay costs after pleading guilty to breaching safety regulations in relation to a work accident which left an employee with severe burns.

Kim Barker Construction Ltd was prosecuted following the incident in October 2009, when Richard Baisley suffered burns to his hands, arms, face and chest after drilling through concrete and piercing a 415-volt cable.

The company had failed to establish the location of the cable before instructing the worker, who is now unable to return to his career as a welder, and a colleague to carry out the task.

Sally Rissbrook, a workplace injury claims specialist at Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield office, said the case demonstrates why employers cannot afford to ignore the importance of health and safety.

She outlined: “Like so many of the cases we act in, this incident is a work accident which has emerged as a result of an employer failing to meet their responsibilities when it comes to the safety of workers.  In addition, this case also shows the life-changing impact that workplace injuries can have on victims.

“Projects need to be fully planned across all stages, with any potential risks assessed long before work gets underway.

“The construction industry is a sector where workers face many potential risks and it is vital that firms provide them with the guidance and tools to ensure they can meet their responsibilities in the safest possible manner.”

Our accident at work solicitors could help you claim compensation for a burn, laceration or scarring as a result of a workplace accident. See our Burns, Scars & Lacerations At Work Claims page for more information.