Two companies have been fined after a man was killed and another seriously injured when a cherry picker struck an 11,000-volt overhead powerline at an anaerobic digestion plant in Devon.
Carl Parsons, 34, was fatally injured when the cherry picker struck a power line while working on a blockage that had accumulated inside a biodigester tank. His work colleague, Luke Madavan, also suffered life-changing injuries from the incident.
Described by his family as ‘funny, loving, kind and a fantastic father’, Parsons left behind a wife and three children.
Willand O&M were fined £51,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £28,467 after pleading guilty at Exeter Crown Court. New Wave Marine also pleaded guilty and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £8,000.
The court heard that New Wave Marine had been contracted by Willand O&M to lift the lid of a biodigester and stir a crust blockage that had accumulated inside the tank.
During this work, a cherry picker operated by New Wave Marine struck an overhead powerline, fatally electrocuting Parsons and causing a serious electric shock to Madavan.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Willand O&M had been advised by their principal contractor and Western Power Distribution to relocate the overhead powerline.
Willand O&M failed to act on this advice and put no adequate control measures in place, such as height restrictors on cherry pickers. Supervision, monitoring and site induction were also found to be poor.
New Wave Marine’s risk assessment was found to be neither suitable nor sufficient. The investigation also found the company lacked formal training provision and adequate supervision for the work being carried out.
Commenting on the sentencing, HSE Inspector Nicole Buchanan, said: “The death of Mr Carl Parsons and the injuries to Mr Madavan were entirely avoidable, and I hope that this case will serve as a lesson to others who try to avoid costs by working near overhead powerlines.”
“I express my deepest sympathy to those who witnessed the incident, to Carl’s family, his wife, and especially to his three children, and to Mr Madavan; and I thank them for their cooperation throughout the investigation.”
