A Bristol based property development firm has been fined £125,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 in costs after safety breaches led to one of its employees being electrocuted.
The incident occurred in March 2008 at Pollacks House in Bristol where Danny Edwards, 23, had been fitting a washing machine for Birakos Enterprises Limited. It is thought that Mr Edwards touched a copper water pipe and the back of the machine simultaneously, causing a massive electric shock.
The kitchen's electrics had been signed off as safe by the electrical division of Birakos Enterprises, but it was discovered that the live and earth wires had been put into the socket incorrectly, meaning the washing machine became electrically live when plugged in.
The company, who denied the charges of failing to ensure the safety of its employees and failing to discharge its duties under the Electricity at Work Regulations SI 1989/635, were not present at the trial and are unlikely to pay the fine as they have gone into administration.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Steven Frain said:
"Danny Edwards should have been protected by his employers. Instead he was allowed to work on a machine in which a socket was obviously wired incorrectly.
The fault should have been found during testing but this fault was left unresolved and ultimately led to the death of this young father."
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