Man set on fire in work incidentA joiner's boiler suit was set alight when a short circuit caused a small electrical explosion - resulting in the prosecution of an Aberdeen building company.
On November 11, 2008, George Forbes was refurbishing flats in Aberdeen city centre on Holburn Street for Graeme W Cheyne (Builders) Ltd when the incident occurred.
The 62-year-old from Nigg, Aberdeen, was attempting to put new plasterboard behind a fuse cut-out, a redundant electricity power supply, which unknown to Mr Forbes was still live. The fuse cut-out was connected to a 415 volt cable when Mr Forbes came into contact with it.
The cable was also twisted, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, which caused a short circuit and created enough energy for an explosion. The firm was fined £9,000 and ordered to pay Mr Forbes £4,000 in the prosecution.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that Mr Forbes suffered burns to his face and his left hand. While he recovered and returned to work a few weeks later, he was extremely lucky not to have been electrocuted.
Graeme W Cheyne (Builders) Ltd, of Sugarhouse Lane, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work for employees working on or near an electrical system, breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
| 
