A fencing contractor has been fined after an employee suffered electric shock injuries and burns when he struck a live underground cable while working on a construction site.
Paul Taylor, 59, was working for City Fencing Contractors Limited at a site in Manchester in May 2024.
He was part of a team installing security fencing at the Meade Hill Shul synagogue site.
Underground cable strike
Mr Taylor was using a breaker to dig into the ground in preparation for installing metal fencing when he struck a live underground electrical cable.
The incident caused a powerful electric shock and left the father-of-three with multiple burn injuries to his stomach, chest and arms.
Photographs taken after the incident showed significant burn damage to his workwear.
HSE investigation findings
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that City Fencing Contractors Limited had failed to implement suitable and sufficient control measures to reduce the risks posed by underground services.
According to HSE guidance, construction work that could create a risk from underground services must not take place unless suitable steps have been taken to prevent danger so far as is reasonably practicable.
The regulator said a safe system of work should include three main elements: planning the work, detecting and identifying underground services, and ensuring safe excavation and digging practices are followed.
Safe digging requirements
HSE guidance states that careful planning and risk assessments must be completed before work begins, taking into account local site conditions and how the work will be carried out.
The guidance also says plans or suitable information relating to buried services should always be obtained and reviewed before excavation starts.
However, plans alone only indicate the possible location of underground services. A competent person must also trace cables using suitable locating devices.
Before excavation work begins, underground cables should be identified, located and clearly marked.
City Fencing Contractors Limited, based in Liverpool, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 25(4) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The Company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,487 costs at Warrington Magistrates Court on 26 May 2026.
HSE inspector John Padfield said: “Underground services are widespread and represent a significant risk.
“It is important measures are taken to identify them before any excavation work is undertaken.
“On this occasion, an electrical cable was struck and an operative suffered severe burns.
“However, it could have been much worse and potentially fatal. Had the company implemented an effective safe system of work following HSE guidance, this incident would not have occurred.”
