Energy company fined after switch room accident

Global Energy Nigg Limited has been fined £80,000 after a surveyor died from injuries caused by an electrical explosion on its premises.
The surveyor was carrying out an asbestos survey on 10 December 2020. He was injured by an electrical explosion while inspecting an electric panel and passed away three months later following multiple infections and sepsis complications brought on by his injuries.
He had been carrying out the survey for Global Energy Nigg Limited at its Shop 7 premises at Nigg Energy Park, in the Cromarty Firth.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the switch room was not in an appropriate condition. Live switch panels did not have a warning label indicating they were energised and there was no warning of electrical danger at the internal doorway between Shop 7 and the switch room – the internal door itself was missing.
The HSE said failure to maintain the switch room in an appropriate condition was the underlying cause of the incident. The primary duty of care belonged to Global Energy Nigg Limited.