Leisure Firm Fined After Floodlight Electrocution

Brief Summary

A man was electrocuted by a floodlight while retrieving a football from an all weather pitch. The investigation found worn and faulty wiring and that the employer had failed to properly inspect and maintain the floodlight, even after an earlier report about the same equipment.

What Was The Incident?

During a five a side football session at a leisure centre in Portsmouth, a ball went out of play. The man climbed a fence to retrieve it and came into contact with a floodlight, leading to a fatal electric shock.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £40,000 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Fix known defects rather than leaving them to deteriorate. Where equipment is identified as being in poor condition, risks must be remedied promptly rather than being left in place for extended periods.

Maintain electrical systems to prevent danger. Electrical equipment should be maintained so far as is reasonably practicable to prevent danger to people who may come into contact with it.

Act on earlier incidents involving the same equipment. A reported shock from the same floodlight equipment shortly before the fatal incident should have triggered effective assessment and repair actions.

Use effective risk management for ageing infrastructure. The case shows the need for robust systems to assess and manage risks from ageing plant and equipment on site.

Inspection must lead to clear decisions and control measures. Inspection and maintenance processes must not just identify issues, they must ensure faults are addressed and risks are controlled to prevent serious harm.

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