A drilling contractor has been fined along with a farming company after a worker was electrocuted during drilling work in Norfolk.

L F Papworth Ltd of Felmingham, Norfolk pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £134,000 with over £6,484 in costs.

T.W. Page & Son Ltd of Frettenham, Norfolk pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £80,400 with over £6,596 in costs.

Norwich Crown Court heard that the two companies had organised drilling work for the purposes of crop irrigation to be carried out at Felmingham.


Jonathan Howes, an employee of T.W. Page & Son, was operating the controls of a lorry mounted drilling rig during the project on 29 April 2014.

However, a colleague moved the lorry and its mast came into contact with an 11kV power line over a field. Mr Howes injuries included extensive burns to his scalp, arms, legs and feet and loss of two toes.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that neither company had taken effective precautions to prevent work equipment, including the mast of the drilling rig, which was capable of extending to a height greater than that of the powerlines, from coming into contact with the lines.

HSE Inspector Jessica Churchyard said: "This tragic incident has had devastating consequences for Jonathan Howes and his family.

"Duty holders planning, organising and carrying out such work must ensure that site-specific risks are identified and controlled. Where hazardous electrical conductors need to be kept live, workers and equipment must be kept at a safe distance from them.

"Here, no effective precautions were implemented and workers were put at potentially lethal risk with Mr Howes suffering injuries which will affect him for the rest of his life."

(LM)