A pharmaceutical company has been fined after a worker was electrocuted while carrying out refurbishment work at a pharmacy in central Lodnon.

At Southwark Crown Court, Medpharma Ltd was fined £60,000 with £40,000 in costs after being found guilty at an earlier trial to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

The court heard how the 41-year-old labourer was digging a trench during work to lay a new sewage pipe at the site on Edgware Road in July 2013.

-- Advertisement --

However, while digging he struck a 415v electricity cable and suffered burns to his body and throat.

As a result, he is unable to work and is now registered as disabled.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Medpharma after deciding it contravened health and safety laws.

HSE Inspector Stephron Baker Holmes said: "This case follows a terrible incident that left a man seriously injured, with consequences that he is still living with two years later.

"Where digging work is liable to disturb underground services it is vital to take suitable and sufficient steps to control the risks.

"One of the client's key mistakes in this case was to take on practical control of the work during the project without having the necessary understanding to be able to manage construction work safely."

(LM/CD)