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Investigation underway after live cables from damaged lamp-post give passerby an electric shock (From Wirral Globe)
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Investigation underway after live cables from damaged lamp-post give passerby an electric shock
3:53pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News Exclusive By Leigh Marles
Highgreen Road today
AN INVESTIGATION is underway after a Wirral woman received an electric shock from a broken lamp-post.
Wirral Council has asked its highways maintenance contractor Colas to conduct an inquiry after it had carried out work intended to make the column safe last Tuesday.
The authority is also asking the victim to contact them to help the investigation.
It is understood the lamp-post in Birkenhead had become damaged after being struck by a vehicle and Colas attended the scene to isolate the power supply and make the column safe.
But some time later a passerby, a local woman understood to be in her 50s, came into contact with cables from the post and received an electric shock.
She attended Arrowe Park Hospital for checks.
A woman from a nearby shop who helped the victim after the incident said: "She came in here afterwards and had a burn on her hand. It was raining at the time and we were told the wire was sizzling by that point."
In a statement, Wirral Council said: “We were informed via a third-party that someone had been hurt as a result of apparently coming into contact with a live cable from a damaged lighting column on Highgreen Road, Birkenhead.
“We are extremely concerned about this and have asked our contractors, Colas, to conduct an investigation into the work they carried out on this lighting column.
“We have also asked our own health and safety team to look into the incident.
“It would assist us greatly if the person who was hurt could contact us and tell us directly what happened.”
A Colas spokesman said: “We have been made aware of the incident and an investigation is being carried out.
“The relevant authorities have been informed accordingly but we are unable to give any more details.”
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said he was unable to provide any further information as "the incident has not been reported."
Comments(8)
Cheesy Peas
says...
4:39pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Colas didn't exactly get their lamp post repair fee correct when they were given the contract, as I recall.
Positive thinker
says...
5:03pm Wed 10 Oct 12
smell a claim Christmas is coming
Ilovewirral
says...
5:09pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Positive thinker
says...
5:40pm Wed 10 Oct 12
hope the councils legal department think the same when they recieve a letter of claim from where's there Blame there's a claim solicitor
JimmyMercury
says...
9:29pm Wed 10 Oct 12
As the person has not contacted the council then surely it is a bit naughty to assume this is someone looking to claim?
There have been instances in the past when dogs have been killed and as a grandparent, it always worries me when my grandchildren touch metal lamposts in case they are not safe.
Colas and the Council have a duty of care and if they muck up then I hope they do have to pay. I would rather the bosses lose their jobs though!
JohnON
says...
7:44am Thu 11 Oct 12
When I left school, I had to serve a 5-year apprenticeship with one day a week day release and one night a week night school.
At the end of that time, I became an electrician - and only an electrician.
PaulCa
says...
3:35pm Thu 11 Oct 12
We can probably rule out Scottish Power (or whichever outfit took them over) as COLAS were called to isolate it, evidently identified it as a council cable and undertook the work.
Next problem. Why didn't they succeed in isolating it? Why didn't they make it safe and bury the damaged cable in the ground? Why was it left live and exposed?
If the council spokesman is correct, it wasn't a shock / burn from the column coming into contact with a buried, badly insulated repair job, but from the cable itself.
Next problem. Whoever did the 'work'; are they individually / corporately cleared and accredited for safely carrying out that work?
There have been rumblings about irresponsible sub-contracting. Was it a COLAS worker or was it a sub-contracted worker without the required qualifications, safety clearance and experience?
Cheesy Peas says...
4:34pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Anyone fancy a game of golf?