Firm fined over high voltage shock

A stationery firm has been fined £4,000 after a worker suffered a massive electric shock that left him permanently disabled.

An investigation into the incident at Chart Design Ltd in Wembley by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) uncovered a widespread disregard for the maintenance of machinery at the factory, including the plastic welding machine that delivered the debilitating shock in June 2007.

The HSE found that guard panels that would have prevented access to live circuits on the machine had been removed, exposing the worker to high voltage components which carried thousands of volts.

City of London Magistrates’ Court heard how the worker came into contact with the exposed machinery, severely burning his right hand and forearm and damaging several muscles. He was kept in hospital for 14 days and has been unable to return to work due to damage to his right hand.

Chart Design Ltd, of Luxton Close, Dury Way, Wembley, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,330. The court also heard how the company had failed to train any first aiders.