Power company admits health and safety offences following death of worker

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission PLC, which is responsible for maintaining the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, pled guilty to a contravention of Sections 3(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

It was fined £133,000 for the incident which occurred at Contullich Woods near Alness. The company was told it would have faced a fine of £200,000 were it not for its plea of guilty.

The court heard that on 2 August 2013 Gareth Aitken was supervising two junior colleagues, using a suspended work platform to replace the cables between the pylons on the line. While moving the platform to a lower position on the pylon Mr Aitken came into contact with a charged electric cable.

A highly complex joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and police resulted in detailed prosecution reports being submitted to the Crown. It was found that the charge that killed Mr Aitken was caused by induction from the adjacent live circuit. The investigation concluded that the Permit to Work issued by the Company in relation to the work to be carried out was inadequate and that the risk of death or very serious injury was readily foreseeable.

Gary Aitken, head of health and safety division said: “The failing on the part of Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission PLC to have in place an adequately specified Permit to Work did not provide for a safe system of work. This ultimately led to the tragic death of Gareth Aitken.

“The risk of death from this type of work was foreseeable and entirely avoidable.

“Since this incident the company has carried out additional training in the Permit to Work process to ensure compliance with expected standards.

“Companies can fully expect to be prosecuted for their failure to fulfil their health and safety obligations.”