Roofing firm fined following employee electrocution

A Newbury-based roofing firm has been fined £70,000 following a workplace accident in which a male employee was electrocuted.

Blackford employee Anthony Milani, 26, was operating a lorry-driven crane at West Horton Farm industrial estate, located near Fair Oak, when the accident happened. The crane came into contact with three 11kv overhead power cables and the powerful electric current killed Milani instantly.

Following a thorough investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, Blackford admitted breaches of health and safety regulations. Whilst Milani had previously been shown how to operate the crane by a senior warehouseman, he was not a competent trainer and, although he knew of the overhead cables, he did not consider them to be a risk.

Blackford pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at New Forest Magistrates’ Court. It was then sentenced at Southampton Crown Court.

Health and Safety Executive's Dennis MacWilliam, said, “Proper training and simple checks and procedures could have prevented this horrific accident.

The company failed to provide suitable and sufficient training and supervision for Mr Milani in the use of HIAB cranes and especially the risk from overhead power lines. They also failed to ensure lifting operations were properly planned and hazards identified,” he added.