Firm fined over staff electrocutionPreston vegetable firm Huntapac Produce has been ordered to paid nearly £10,000 after two workers were electrocuted when a metal ladder they were carrying made contact with an overhead power line.
The company, which grows, packs and distributes root vegetables, was prosecuted for two health and safety offences following the incident at Marsh Farm in Hesketh Bank near Preston. It was fined £5,000 and told to pay £4,881 costs.
Ormskirk Magistrates' Court was told two male workers were lifting a metal ladder into a water pump shaft when it touched the 11,000 volt power lines.
One of the employees fell unconscious and suffered electrical burns to a hand and both his feet, while the other man's feet were also badly burned, the court heard.
HSE inspector Matt Lea said: "Both these men are lucky to be alive following this incident, which could easily have been prevented.
"Huntapac should have made sure a simple health and safety check was carried out at the site before work was allowed to start. If this had happened, it would have been obvious that the overhead electricity line could be a potential danger."
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