Lack of warning signs and disabled alarm costs council £21,764.50

If evidence were ever needed as to the importance of proper warning signs and control measures being used where necessary, just ask Northumberland Country Council. They have just had to pay out £21,764.50 in fines and costs because of inadequate signage.

In February last year a crane jib on the back of a lorry managed to hit an overhead power line bringing it down. That line carried 20,000 volts which remained live inside the council's Stakeforde Depot putting workers at risk of serious injury.

The problems that caused this to happen were two-fold. Firstly, the alarm that sounded on the lorry when the crane jib was raised had been disabled. Secondly, the warning sings and control measures around that area of the depot were quite small so the driver didn't realize the power line was even there.

Sally Brecken, HSE inspector, commented:

"Direct contact with electrical equipment at such high voltages is very likely to lead to fatal injuries through either electric shock or burns. This was a narrow escape that could have easily been avoided.

If the alarm on the crane had been functioning the driver would have been aware the crane was still raised before driving off and if suitable control measures around the overhead power line had been in place, the driver would have known about it."

Northumberland County Council, of County Hall, Morpeth, pleaded guilty of one breach of Regulation 4(3) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The fine was £13,400 and the costs £8,364.50.

Source: HSE