Fencing Firm Fined After Worker Strikes Live Underground Cable
By Safety Desk · 24 June 2026
A Liverpool-based fencing contractor has been fined following an incident where an employee suffered severe electric shocks and burns while excavating.
A fencing contractor has been fined ,000 after an employee sustained serious burn injuries while installing security fencing in Manchester. The 59-year-old worker was using a mechanical breaker to prepare the ground when he struck a live underground power cable. The resulting flash and shock caused significant burns to his chest, arms, and stomach.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that City Fencing Contractors Limited failed to implement sufficient control measures to manage the risks posed by underground services. The regulator found that the company had not established a robust safe system of work, which should have included thorough planning and the use of cable detection tools.
For safety managers and contractors, this case highlights the critical importance of cable avoidance procedures. HSE guidance specifies that a safe system must involve three core elements: detailed planning of the site layout, the detection and marking of all services by a competent person using appropriate equipment, and the adoption of safe digging practices once work commences.
As part of the legal proceedings at Warrington Magistrates Court, the company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 25(4) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. In addition to the fine, the firm was ordered to pay ,487 in costs, serving as a reminder that failure to identify buried hazards can lead to both severe physical harm and significant financial penalties.
Source: HSE