Cable strike during substation works injures worker at Oldham

What happened

During construction works at Whitegate Substation in Chadderton, Oldham, an excavator struck an existing live high voltage cable on 17 September 2019. The excavator was working for VolkerInfra Ltd, a subcontractor to principal contractor Siemens Energy Ltd on a wider construction project at the substation. The strike caused multiple explosions, and the excavator driver suffered blistering to the retina. The works had not been ready to start. The Health and Safety Executive investigated.

Reported in April 2022, Siemens Energy Ltd pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and was fined £900,000 with costs of £6,327.52. VolkerInfra Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £180,000 with costs of £6,430.72.

Contributing factors

The HSE found that the permit to dig had not been properly completed by Siemens Energy Ltd. It also found that neither Siemens Energy Ltd nor VolkerInfra Ltd had checked the cable markings before work began. The existing live cable had not been adequately identified, and the surface markings for its location were about 50cm out. The HSE also found that monitoring and supervision of the works were not adequate.

Lessons learned

1. Confirm that the permit to dig is fully completed and that works are ready before any excavation starts.
2. Verify the location of live cables using survey and proven detection methods before digging nearby, and do not rely on surface markings alone.
3. Supervise excavation near live cables continuously, and make sure principal contractors and subcontractors each check the safe system of working.

More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, detection and monitoring, from every incident on the register.

Source

theoldhamtimes.co.uk