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19
Mar 2021
Ripon firm fined nearly £50k after worker suffered burns
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and found that the company failed to act on a quote from Northern Power Grid to terminate supply to the building.
The demolition site where the fire broke out. Photo: HSE
A Ripon-based construction firm has been fined nearly £50,000 after one of its worker suffered multiple burns.
Walden Builders Ltd was in the process of demolishing an outbuilding on September 18, 2018 when an excavator struck a wall containing a 415v cable.
The contact with the digger caused it to arc and a fire soon broke out. Workers then used a sheet of tin to try and contain the blaze.
However the tin soon heated up and dropped onto one of the workers, causing burns to their scalp, arm and hands.
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and found that the company failed to act on a quote from Northern Power Grid to terminate supply to the building.
Leeds Magistrates Court last week fined Walden Builders Ltd £42,000 and ordered the company to pay £4,707 in costs.
HSE inspector Paul Thompson said after the hearing:
“The company should have ensured that there was no live power to the building prior to the start of demolition work.
"The company had failed to prepare a written plan for the demolition of the building or any site-specific risk assessments.
"This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”
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