Electricity provider Scottish Power UK has been fined £130,000
after a 20-year-old man was killed warning motorists about a live
electricity cable that had become dangerous.
Simon Lines, from Prees, Shropshire, was killed in the village
on January 2, 2007, after trying to warn motorists about a power
cable that had sagged because of high winds.
While trying to protect others from coming into contact with the
cable in Whitchurch Road, Mr Lines was struck in the face by it
after it was dislodged by a passing van.
After being hit by the van the cable fell onto the road and was
run over by a car, which caused it to fly up into the air and
strike Mr Lines. He was taken to hospital but died eight days later
from the injuries caused by being struck by the cable, rather than
the electric shock.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation into the incident
showed the cable had been attached to a wooden block on the side of
nearby Holly Farm House. John Steed, an HSE specialist electrical
inspector, said the block was found to be partially rotten and the
deterioration led to the cable becoming detached. Since the
incident Scottish Power has removed this type of fixing arrangement
from its network.
As well as the large fine, Sottish Power was ordered to pay
£48,000 costs at Shrewsbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to
contravening Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations
1989.