Signature Events Rental Shoppe out of London is being fined $100,000 after a worker was killed putting up a tent for a wedding near Watford.
On August 1 of 2013, six workers employed by the rental shoppe were setting up tents for a wedding when the metal poles hit overhead electrical lines. The electric current travelled down the pole and injured five of the six workers. A secondary shock further injured those lying on the ground.
Two of the workers were able to drag the others away from the pole and perform CRP. Air and land ambulances were sent to the site. One of the workers, 21-year-old Jeremy Bowley of London, died as a result of electrocution. Many others suffered burns and shock.
A Ministry of Labour investigation has revealed that all of the workers were under the age of 25 and were seasonal employees. None of them had received any safety training and there had been no training in relation to identifying site hazards, such as overhead power lines. The Ministry also says no one from the business checked out the area beforehand or asked for information about utilities. In addition to that, the Ministry says no one was trained on how to lift materials or move the tents in such a way that no one would be put at risk or injured.
Signature Events Rental Shoppe has pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the health and safety of workers was protected and failing to provide adequate information, instruction and supervision to workers about the hazards of overhead electrical wires, as required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The company has two years to pay the $100,000 fine and a 25% victim surcharge fee.
