London Borough of Hackney fined £10,000 after electric shock leaves employee in a come for 2 days

The London Borough of Hackney has today been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £11,286.37 costs in a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive after an employee of the works department received an electric shock while changing a street light which stopped him breathing and left him in a coma for two days.

The incident took place on 23 July 2003 while Steve Yamoah from Hackney and a member of the works department, was working with Geoff Hicks, a qualified electrician, on a street lamp outside Lincoln Court, Bethune Road, London N16. The normal procedure is to switch off the light using the isolator switch at the bottom. The two men had not been taken through this procedure or instructed in how to carry out a proper risk assessment. In addition the live and neutral wires of the light had previously been accidentally reversed.

When Mr Yamoah changed the bulb he received a severe electric shock and was thrown from the ladder, knocked unconscious and stopped breathing. Mr Hicks, who was holding the bottom of the ladder, also received an electric shock but recovered sufficiently to give Mr Yamoah artificial respiration. Mr Yamoah was in a coma for two days, received severe burns to his right hand, fractured his spine and dislocated his shoulder. He is recovering from his injuries and is no longer working for Hackney on grounds of ill health.

Following the hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 16 October 2006 at which the London Borough of Hackney pleaded guilty, HSE Principal Inspector Ron Wright said,

"This was a very unfortunate series of events that led to serious injury for Mr Yamoah. The case highlights the failure of Hackney Council to provide proper training to employees working on electrical equipment and for the need for a thorough risk assessment particularly when working in public areas".

The London Borough of Hackney was prosecuted for breaching its duty under section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974.

Notes to Editors

1. Section 2(1) of Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

2. The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive and local government are the enforcing authorities working in support of the Commission. See http://www.hse.gov.uk for more information. For more information about hazards at work and occupational health, see http://hse.gov.uk/pubns/ohindex.htm.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by Government News Network London.

Client ref PR/161006/LON