The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to employers, after two teenagers were injured when farm machinery touched overhead power lines.

In May 2007, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were working at the Hilborough Pig Unit of Bowes Farm on the Hilborough Estate in Great Cressingham, Norfolk.

The 16-year-old was helping his 17-year-old colleague load straw in a field on the farm. The latter was using the telescopic mechanical arm of a telehandler to grab the straw and lift it into the back of a trailer.

During a break in their work, the telehandler’s mechanical arm was released and rose upwards, touching overhead power lines carrying 11,000 volts of electricity.

The 16-year-old was holding onto the front cage of the vehicle’s cab and received a potentially fatal electric shock.

The driver of the telehandler went to help him and received a shock that threw him back into his seat.

The younger boy was airlifted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital before being transferred to the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

Medical staff operated to relieve high pressure in his legs and he was left with two long scars on both legs. His left foot was also damaged where the electricity exited his body.

Doctors had to amputate his small toe and remove part of his big toe because of damage caused by electricity arcing over the metal toe cap of his boot.

The 17-year-old had also suffered an electric shock and spent the night under observation in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. He was not seriously injured, however.

On Wednesday (14/10/09) at Norwich Crown Court, Bowes of Norfolk Ltd, of Brandon Road, Watton in Norfolk pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, as well as 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.

The company was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £23,095 costs, plus £600 in compensation.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector, Joanne Williams, said the incident demonstrated the importance of ‘looking after young and vulnerable employees’.

‘Employers must ensure young staff, in particular those under 17, are given adequate training and supervision when starting a new job. Young employees are particularly vulnerable to accidents, so it is vital they are adequately supervised – especially when working around high hazards, such as overhead power lines.’

Ms Williams added:

‘Too many people are dying in needless accidents on British farms. In the last ten years, 455 people went out in the morning and never came home. This incident could have easily proved fatal.’

Ms Williams said that the HSE and the farm industry both provided advice ‘to help companies comply with the law and keep those working on farms safe’. 

She added that the HSE was currently providing free Agriculture Safety and Health Awareness Days – and asked employers to attend and receive the advice that could save a life. Ms Williams warned:

‘The HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way.’

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