A company has been fined £400,000 after a driver was killed when his vehicle’s grab arm came into contact with an overhead power line.
Luton Crown Court heard how Darren Waterman, employed by Just Grab Services, was unloading material at a site in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, when the grab arm struck an 11kV power line and he was killed.
The site was managed by Options Energy Resource LLP.
An investigation by the HSE found that Options Energy Resource LLP had identified the risk from the power line in assessments, but had failed to rectify it and adequately plan construction work and train its employees.
The company admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and as well as the fine, it was ordered to pay costs of £17,242.33.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Samantha Wells said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of Options Energy Resource LLP to implement safe systems of work and to ensure that health and safety documentation was communicated and followed.
“Every year in the UK, two people are killed and many more are injured when machinery comes into contact with, or close proximity to, overhead power lines.”
Year: 2014 | Body Type: Curtainsider | Cab Type: Day | Registration: EF14VDA | Mileage: 627,510 km | Category: Rigids
Year: 2018 | Body Type: Tractor Unit | Cab Type: Sleeper | Registration: PJ68DZO | Mileage: 467,588 km | Category: Tractor units
