Firms warned to ensure workers are fully trained

Categories: Engineering Health and Safety | Construction Health and Safety | General Health and Safety |


Firms warned to ensure workers are fully trained The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has urged employers to make sure that workers are correctly trained after a local council was fined following the death of an employee.

An investigation found that the council worker was not adequately trained to use a cable avoidance tool, which led to him clamping an electric cable, mistaking it for a water main, reports 24dash.

The council pleaded guilty to three breaches of health and safety legislation and magistrates ordered it to pay £55,000 in fines and court costs.

Trevor Morrow, the HSE inspector investigating the accident, stated: "I hope this tragic incident makes it clear to employers that they need to take positive steps to risk assess the obvious hazards involved with underground work."

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that companies are required to provide employees with suitable training to ensure their safety.

It also states that firms should provide personal protective equipment – such as safety gloves – when members of staff have to deal with hazardous materials.
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