An engineering firm has been fined after an employee died during maintenance work on an electricity pylon in Carlisle.

Bilfinger Industrial Services (UK) Limited of Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £200,000 with over £59,320 in costs.

Carlisle Crown Court how Vincent John Richards, 49, from Walsall was installing fall arrest lines for painters to use on the pylon at Great Orton on 05 July 2014.

Mr Richards was employed by Bilfinger as a 'Rigger' and had been working with a colleague preparing the pylons in readiness for painters to carry out maintenance work.


On the morning of the incident, Mr Richards arrived at pylon FT37 and found that the painters had already started painting, even though the pylon had not been rigged.

Mr Richards had climbed approximately 30ft up the pylon, when he fell backwards, narrowly missing one of the painters working directly below him. He sustained serious multiple injuries as a result of the fall and died at the scene.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found a number of failings by Bilfinger in the management of risks arising from work at height. While the company had a system of work, they failed to implement, monitor and enforce this system, therefore exposing their workers to the risk of death.

HSE Inspector Susan Ritchie said: "The company were clearly aware of the hazards involved with pylon work and had a system in place to manage the risks. Unfortunately they failed to implement, monitor and enforce this system of work. In addition they failed to ensure the proper inspection and provision of safety critical personal protective equipment."

(LM/MH)