Network Rail and Jarvis Rail fined after two rail workers received electric shock

19 September 2008
ORR/29/08

The ORR warned Network Rail and its contractors today of the importance of maintaining electrical equipment.

This follows ORR’s prosecution of Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd and Jarvis Rail Ltd after two workers received a 240 volt electric shock from a metal fence. One of them was off work for three months as a result.

Today, Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd was fined £120,000 and Jarvis Rail Ltd £66,000 at Blackfriars Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.  Both were ordered to contribute towards prosecution costs.

Don Wilson, an inspector at the Office of Rail Regulation said: “This case highlights the need for Network Rail and its contractors to take the maintenance of electrical systems seriously and to act quickly whenever faults are identified. 

“These workers would not have received a potentially fatal electric shock if the companies had been carrying out their responsibilities properly.”

In April 2005 two Channel Tunnel Rail Link workers carrying out repairs north of Kings Cross received an electric shock when they touched a perimeter fence bordering Network Rail property.  The metal fence was ‘live’ because a residual current device (RCD) was defective.  One worker lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital.  Anyone, including members of the public, walking next to the fence, could have received an electric shock if they had touched it.

An investigation by ORR’s Railway Inspectorate established that the RCD was not working properly and had been out of action for at least 20 months beforehand, despite several maintenance visits identifying the fault and the need for action. 

Notes to editors

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require systems to be maintained so as to prevent, danger, so far as is reasonably practicable.  Duties are placed by the Regulations on employers regardless of who is put at risk.

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