DS accident with electricity at work

[Pocketfullofdogtreats]

DS is a self-employed builder, currently working for a small building company renovating an old house. He was up some scaffolding, rendering (plastering) the outside of the property when he got a huge electric shock. He had moved a cable in order to render underneath it, and apparently the rubber was degraded, there was a crack, and he had touched it with wet hands (from the render). He had a dead arm. His boss phoned the electricity company and they said to phone 111, who wanted to send an ambulance. But DS drove himself to A&E where they saw him straight away and did lots of tests including a blood test. The electricity company said they were aware that the wiring needed to be upgraded - these things have a shelf life and it was on their list. They hadn't told the homeowner (who was horrified and said he never would've had the work done if he'd known) and DS's boss was unaware too. So someone (111?) said that he was very lucky he was wearing trainers rather than steel toecap boots, and was standing on wooden boards as it could've killed him. Apparently, outside the house it's a huge amperage, before it goes into a junction box and becomes 240 volts, which is why you see those warning signs on poles. So it's not a question of 'knock you off your feet' but cooking you inside, which was why they did the blood test. So he was at the hospital for several hours but sent home as OK. He is shaken up, This was two days ago. He is wondering if he should take this further. His instinct is to forget it and learn from it. TIA

anyway all the best to your son

The electricity company said they were aware that the wiring needed to be upgraded - these things have a shelf life and it was on their list.

This is a private house?
On their list?!

I've been wearing composites on site for the last 18 years, so no, steel isn't compulsory

odd to ring the electricity company in an emergency

boss doesn’t sound sharpest tool in the box

faced with a person working for you having sustained a huge electrical shock…. and you don’t ring 999 or 111

you ring the electricity company?!

They checked while he held on.

they never said it
the boss is bull shitting

Christ one mention of SE and all the vipers come out erroneously insisting that he's a criminal tax avoider and scum 🙄

This

As your DP is self employed he’s technically his own contractor. As that means there is more than one contractor. The main contractor (his boss as you put it) should have taken the role of principal contractor and is responsible for managing self and safety on site.

I doubt he did. He could get into a LOT of shit. So if you want to cause a complete shit storm. Then it’s certainly possible and the avenue above is the one I would take. Failure of a client & contractor to fulfill cdm duties.

And that is not true. Please don’t talk about things you have no idea. See above post.

When I used to work in employers/public liability claims the onus very very rarely lied purely on a subcontractor, that's why bigger contractors also have to declare the wage bill of subcontractors as well as employees to their insurers. Labour only subcontractors a basically rated the same as employees when it comes to insurance premiums

exactly

if anyone to blame it’s the boss for inadequate risk assessment (and checking that who he was employing had sufficient knowledge for the job)

hence why the electrical company’s supposed admission of liability has come from…. the boss

@Pocketfullofdogtreats Did your son actually hear that admission, or did the boss tell him?

Because it seems a bizarre one, and there's two likely causes of action...

1. The call handler DID say it, but shouldn't have, and they deny that it was said. It'll be bosses word vs electricity company.
2. The call hander didn't say it; or mentioned that degradation was a possibility, and the boss has misinterpreted. Perhaps he's concerned your DS will leave the job if he doesn't think the bosses H&S is up to scratch.

I don't think the average call handler would have the authority to talk about this type of thing. I'm glad they were concerned for his safety, though.

correct

added to which, this boss, in all his infinite wisdom, decided to call the electricity company when faced with a serious injury

You are absolutely throwing him under the bus writing to the HSE. there are massive failings on his working practices

he will be part of the investigation and will face relevant repercussions for his part in it being the injured party doesn’t mitigate you from blame

cut the apron strings
basically he cut corners in the way he was working and got caught out the state of the insulation whilst a contributing factor is not a get out of jail card to ignore safe working practices

have you asked him for a copy of his risk assessment and method statement for working near power the HSE will and they’ll want to see it

Have we found the contractor 🤣

Don’t worry OP he’s not going to be prosecuted for injuring himself.

don be ridiculous
he’s self employed so he’s the contractor

Christ almighty <bangs head against a handy wall>

OP, ignore the AIBU hoardes and stop pandering to them. The only ones you need to pay attention to are those who know about H&S and contractor/sub-contractor relationships. And those who know the difference between electrical supplies to a heritage property and a new-build Persimmon estate.

oh dear

🙏

The thread is madness. I don’t know why people bother to comment about stuff they have no idea about.

Do you mean electric company as in the energy provider e.g. EDF, British Gas, or an electrician (firm) doing electrical work on the building?

added to which, this boss, in all his infinite wisdom, decided to call the electricity company when faced with a serious injury

Dear God.... the boss called the electric company because the outer insulation cover on an external cable had split. I am assuming he was checking to see if the whole grid area/substation needed shutting down, not just switching off at the house.

reread the op

faced with an employee seriously injured

he didn’t call 999
he didn’t call 111
he called the electricity company who has to tell him to call 111

”Dear God” 😆

The most determined me-railer is behaving like this all over MN.

So I feel they're just here for a ruckus and can safely be ignored.

There's so many people here who have no idea about how sites are run. Like on most sites he is self employed subcontracting to a main contractor, they are responsible for safety of those they are contracting too so yes hse should be informed. Ultimately the home owner is responsible potentially too though the electric company (that's the grid) hold some responsibility too. HSE will investigate and the aim is to learn so it doesn't happen again. Compensation can be awarded and fines issued but that isn't the main reason for them to be involved, it's learning