Company fined over electric shocksA company has been ordered to pay £48,695 after two teenage employees suffered electric shocks - with one losing a toe as a consequence.
The 16 and 17-year-old pair were working on a farm near Thetford, Norfolk, when the mechanical arm on a telehandler machine made contact with overhead power lines.
The 16-year-old boy was holding on to the front cage of the vehicle's cab and received a potentially fatal electric shock from the 11,000 volt lines.
One of the lads was left with long scars down his leg where cuts were made to relieve pressure on his body, leading to the amputation of his little toe and part of his big toe.
The accident occurred in May 2007 at the Hilborough Pig Unit of Bowes Farm on the Hilborough Estate, Great Cressingham.
Bowes of Norfolk Ltd, from Watton in Norfolk, was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £23,095 costs, plus £600 in compensation, after a hearing at Norwich Crown Court.
It admitted breaches of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Regulations 3(1) and 19(1) of the Management Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (protection of young workers) and Regulation 4(3) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
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