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GMK Construction Limited prosecuted for failure to disconnect electrical supply

28 April 2021

GMK Construction Limited (GMK) was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £5000 towards costs by the Royal Court on 16th April 2021, after pleading guilty to a breach of Regulation 21 of the Health and Safety (Management in Construction) (Jersey) Regulations 2016 for a failure to disconnect or isolate the electrical supply to 32 Halket Place prior to carrying out major construction work.

The prosecution arose following a report from Jersey Electricity (JEC) of damage caused to a mains electrical service during a construction project. This included damage to the distribution board and meter that had been exposed during works involving the demolition of a shop window and excavation of a trench.

When the JEC arrived on site a reinforcing steel beam was being constructed within the excavation immediately adjacent to the 415V live cable (Photos below).  Investigation by the Health and Safety Inspectorate identified that GMK was the main contractor in control of the work being carried out.

The work during the demolition, excavation and construction of the reinforcing beam exposed workers to the risk of harm from electric shock, burns or electrocution and it was extremely fortunate that nobody was hurt in this instance.

The Health and Safety Inspectorate would like to remind anyone planning any construction work to ensure that all existing services are adequately considered and assessed at an early stage. If the work involved is likely to result in any demolition, interference, disruption or damage of the service then it must be disconnected or otherwise made safe before the commencement of the construction work.

Disconnection prior to demolition works

  • where a building or structure is due to be demolished, the electrical services(s) must be permanently disconnected and removed
  • you will be required to submit a 'Redundant Services Form' (RSF) to Jersey Electricity together with a sketch of the site indicating the location of the services to be removed and the area of the proposed work highlighted.
  • the RSF must be submitted at least 30 working days prior to the commencement of work
  • Jersey Electricity will then remove the electrical supply cable from the premises and provide a Certificate of Disconnection
  • no work which may expose persons to risk from coming into contact with a live electrical cable should take place until the certificate of disconnection has been received
  • being in possession of the certificate of disconnection does not exempt anyone carrying out the work from ensuring persons are not exposed to undue risk
  • should any cable or apparatus be inadvertently discovered during work, this must be protected and treated as being live and Jersey Electricity contacted immediately

Further Information

Working safely near underground utility services (Yellow Booklet)
Electricity at Work Regulations 
Mangement in Construction Regulations 2016

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