EWS fined after maintenance fitter received 30 per cent burns in accident

27 June 2007
ORR/16/07

The Office of Rail Regulation has warned rail companies of the need to have safe working practices in the workplace, following an accident in which a maintenance fitter suffered 30 per cent burns to his body.

English Welsh and Scottish Railways Ltd (EWS) was yesterday (26 June) fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £11,744 costs at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The company was charged under section 2 of the Act of  failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees while carrying out maintenance activities operated under a safe system of work.

The court heard that the accident happened on 11 January 2006 when Andrew Wickham was working at the Crewe International Electrical Maintenance Depot, Wistaston Road, Crewe, which is leased by EWS.

Mr Wickham was working on top of an electric locomotive when he came into contact with a live overhead conductor carrying 25,000 volts. He was taken to hospital in Crewe and then transferred to an emergency burns unit at Whiston on Merseyside.

He remained in hospital for 20 days undergoing skin grafts and, although he has since returned to work, he is only working three days a week on light duties because of the injuries he suffered.

The court was told that the procedures in place to ensure maintenance fitters did not work near live wires were not followed in practice leading to the accident.

HM Railways Inspector Steve Turner, of the Office of Rail Regulation said:

“This was a serious accident that could have been avoided if the right procedures had been in place.

“EWS had a duty to take steps to ensure there was in place a Safe System of Work for the inspection and maintenance of locomotives and that this system of work was followed in practice.

“EWS failed to ensure that the system of work was followed and there therefore existed a risk to its employees, including Mr Wickham.”

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