Leeds City Council has been prosecuted after a lorry driver narrowly avoided serious injury when a high-voltage surge of electricity caused the tyres of his tipper truck to explode.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) decided to prosecute the council, following the incident in June 2008 at Red Hall Estates landscape construction storage site at Shadwell.

HSE inspectors found that the life of the lorry driver was endangered when he lifted the tipper body of his wagon directly beneath a power line.

An arc of high-voltage electricity subsequently blew out his tyres, putting the driver at risk of electrocution when he left his cab to check what was happening.

An HSE investigation also found that signs and barriers should have been in place to prevent the incident from occurring.

Lifting machinery was also in operation at the site which could have resulted in a similar incident.

On Tuesday (13/04/10) at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, Leeds City Council pleaded guilty to two breaches – of Section 2(1) and Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. In addition to a £10,500 fine, the council was also ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Charlie Callis said that it was ‘sheer luck’ the driver of the tipper lorry escaped without serious injury – ‘and, more importantly, his life’.

‘As he got in and out of his vehicle whilst the tyres were exploding, he could easily have been killed,’ said Mr Callis.

‘Employers and businesses have a responsibility to ensure staff and visitors are aware of the dangers of overhead power lines. Signs and barriers should have been in place, but the council failed to do this.

Mr Callis added that around 1,000 electrical incidents at work were reported to the HSE each year – and around 25 people died of their injuries, ‘proving just how serious these types of incidents can be’.

More information about electrical safety at work can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/electricity.  

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