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Camden New Journal - by DAVID ST GEORGE
Published: 24 May 2007

Company is fined £100,000 over death of electrician

A company has been fined £100,000 after an electrician was killed during the refurbishment of a building society.
The Old Bailey heard how Barry Martin was electrocuted when an inexperienced colleague switched the power back on as he worked on a leaking water heater in the kitchen of the staff canteen at the Halifax Building Society Branch in High Holborn.
As his head was only inches from exposed high-voltage wiring, Mr Martin suffered a major electric shock.
Horrified workmates saw him collapse and despite emergency first aid he could not be saved.
CFR Group Plc admitted a breach of Health and Safety laws following the tragedy in June 2003.
Judge Richard Hone, QC said that the four-year delay in getting the matter to the crown court was regrettable and due to a shortage of Health and Safety inspectors.
Mr Martin, 28, who lived in Chigwell, was the mainstay of his family and their loss was “incalculable,” said Judge Hone.
“Whatever fine I impose is not a measure of the loss of human life,” he added.
Mr Martin had been working 66 hours a week for his firm, based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, which employed 135 people, with an annual turnover of £11 million.
At an inquest an accidental death verdict was returned.
The court heard that CFR, which offered its sincere apology and regret, was proud of its 50-year unblemished safety record.
It had failed to carry out proper risk assessment to prevent the power being reconnected by any worker through an oversight.
Judge Hone imposed a £100,000 fine and £33,000 costs.
He said: “Mr Martin was well regarded by his colleagues and a prodigious hard worker. His death was unnecessary and tragic.”

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