Expert Urges Firms To Follow Safety Guidance

The owner of a building company has been prosecuted over a work accident in which two of his employees suffered serious facial burns.

Terence Hayes of Hayes Electrical and Building Services was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of over £4,700 in relation to the incident in April 2009, which happened while the two workers were installing a new fuse at a switchboard at the Pier Head ferry terminal without the power on-site being cut.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court was told that both workers were seriously hurt in the incident, with one needing three months off work in order to recover.

Mr Hayes admitted a breach of safety regulations in relation to the fire, as he allowed to employees to continue work despite the power still being live.

Stephen Nye, a Partner and workplace injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell, called for all companies to take note of the case.

He outlined: “Like many of the cases we act in, this work accident is one which could have been prevented if the relevant safety guidelines had been followed. Instead, the failings seen in this case led to two workers being injured.

“Health and safety must always be a priority for businesses, but sadly we see the same issues raised time and time again.

“Companies have a duty to protect workers from any potential dangers, as well as provide them with information and training which will help them to carry out their tasks in the most effective manner.”