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Following an investigation into safety standards, carried out by the HSE, Berneslai Homes Ltd, responsible for managing 18,800 homes on behalf of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, has revived a fine after one of their employees suffered an electric shock on a job.
After hearing about HSE’s investigation, Barnsley Magistrates Court investigated the Berneslai Homes Ltd employee who suffered the shock while replacing a wooden garden fence, back in November 2015.
The injured party was shocked after striking an underground electric cable with his metal spade while excavating a post hole. No serious damage was caused; however, the court was made aware that such an incident could potentially be fatal.
After a hearing on September 18th 2015, Berneslai Homes Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and was fined £7,500 with £8,562 in costs, as the court found they had failed to ensure the safety of their worker.
