A real estate lettings company has been prosecuted after a builder was electrocuted during work at an address in Harrogate.

IPH Investments Ltd of Orchard House, Haywra Street, Harrogate pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £53,000 with £654 in costs.

The company appointed self-employed builder Michael Phillips, 50, to carry out preparatory work before converting a premises at Station Parade into a sunbed and beauty salon in October 2015.

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stated the usual electrical supply for most domestic dwellings is 240v, however because this supply was feeding both shop premises and residential flats, a larger supply was needed (400v).

Mr Philips' work involved digging out a small trench in the hallway of the site so that a new electricity supply could be installed into the property.

However, while digging the trench, Mr Phillips struck the existing live service cable with the small breaker he was using. He suffered an electric shock, including 1st and 3rd degree burns to his face, hands, neck and chest.

HSE inspector Jayne Towey said: "This case was entirely preventable if the company had carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment before work began.

"The company could have used a cable avoidance tool (CAT) before any digging was carried out. This would have helped to locate the buried electrical service."

(LM/CD)