The essay analysis core issues that have happened as a result of a faulty portable appliance tests. For instance, when testing inspectors are checking for faulty connections or the fitness of the components in use to be produced by the company, they may be exposed to hazardous situations. The mere fact that an electrical shock would occur when their bodies come into contact with the risky appliances while they stand on the earth would mean that the risks of minor and severe injury including death still persist. In avoiding this hazardous situation in electrical testing, it is mandatory that such personnel work under the application of occupational health and safety measures. Not only does this measure improve the safety of the workers, but it also improves the image of the company to the workers and to the external environment (Safety in Electrical Testing at Work). The objectives behind conducting such tests include quality assurance, diagnostic testing, routine security checks and fault finding on electrical plant. Looking at these, the objectives by the company are profitability and efficiency. However, companies should consider prioritising the safety and health of their workers as well.
An incident that demonstrates the magnitude of this issue would be an accident that occurred on the 19th of March, 2008. It was in Bristol, United Kingdom in which case the victim was a 23 year old, Danny Edwards. Working as a plumber, he met up with his death due to electrocution as he died when placing a washing machine that had been wired incorrectly in a house in Clifton, Bristol. Birakos Enterprises was associated with the responsibility of causing his early death mainly due to their poor adoption of health and safety measures. Danny Edwards’ safety should have been one of the company’s priority. Danny’s family was grieved and totally disappointed. Danny’s father, Paul, maintains the opinion that the company was to blame bearing in mind that the earth and live connector had been set up incorrectly (Houseman, 2013).
The plumber intended to regularize the machine holders to make it in a stander position. In the process, he moved his head into the wardrobe where he then fit his legs off the machine by his hand. In the process, his head met the water funnel and there his death was imminent. The cause of this electrocution is because the washing machine was connected into a socket that had been wired the other way around so the live conductor was placed into the earth and the earth conductor was placed into the live. Due to the metallic part of the washing machine was existent (Houseman, 2013). After investigation the company Enterprises Limited was found guilty as they have not pursued two sections of the rules of the regulations, electricity at work in 1989 and the health and safety in 1978. They had been fined hundred twenty five thousand pounds and demanded to pay fifty thousand (Houseman, 2013).
Edwards’ girlfriend Caroline Williams, who had been pregnant with the first child by the same time he died went to the court hearing with his father Paul. The case was heard five years later. Caroline Williams stated that "It's been a long, long road and I am pleased it is all over. Naturally, I am annoyed that the company is not going to be punished”. Danny's family would like to thank the health and safety executive for their help in getting though this sad condition. They were nobody from the company Birako's Enterprises have elaborated the court hearing, neither the company nor the managers were legally adopted. Danny's family felt deceived by the reality that the punishment might never be paid (Houseman, 2013). The law will always be faced with a complication when dealing with such issues especially when it is about human life. Therefore, the best approaches that the companies should adopt to be protective measures.
Such cases are prominent in various parts of the world. With this in mind, focus may be shifted to fatal electricity accidents that occurred in Western Australia in 2010-2011. To begin with, there was a 46-year-old male who endured a severe shock. He was repairing a plaster on the ceiling. He met up with a live conductor that had been exposed, an earthing that was a bear and an earthed copper water pipe. Bearing in mind that the individual was delivering services to a company, the company should have revised his working conditions to ensure possible that he was exposed to minimal danger. Between the years mentioned above, Western Australia recorded that there had been 35 fatalities, 125 accidents and 9977 shocks. This was a demonstration that a lot needed to be done. In this, the affected are classified into four occupational categories which are dependent on their activity during the accident. They could be supply worker, non-electrical worker, the electrical worker or the general public or community. After the report had been tabled, most companies in the Western Australia demonstrated more focus on to their workers (Electrical Incident and Safety Report). In this relation, therefore, they adopted protective garments, safety procedures, and responsive systems amongst others in an attempt to control accidents.
The two incidents highlighted above come in handy in developing a conclusion. For the first case involving Edwards, the company was identified as to being responsible for his death. This is because; they failed at availing the requirements either in equipment or procedures as stipulated by occupational health and safety policies. On the other hand, the case brought to the table about Western Australia demonstrates how the issue of occupational health and safety is neglected. The consequences are severe; they cause damage especially the intolerable loss of life such as Danny’s case. The legal processes that follow are costly, lengthy, and they would perforate a company’s image.
The cases of electrical accidents during testing are prominent in the electricity industry (Safety in Electrical Testing). With recognition that human life and health are precious, companies that engage in such business should adopt the provisions in the national, WHO and institutional Occupational Health and Safety regulations in preserving, maintaining human life as they make their profits.
References
Electrical Incident Safety Report, (2012). Western Australia 2010-11. Retrieved 18 October 2014, from https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/atoms/files/electrical_incident2010-11.pdf
Fowler, T., & Miles, K. (2002). Electrical safety. [Washington, D.C.?]: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Houseman, J. (2013). Firm fined £125,000 after young plumber Danny Edwards electrocuted. Bristol Post. Retrieved 18 October 2014, from http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Firm-fined-pound-125-000-young-plumber-Danny/story-18286028-detail/story.html
Safety in Electrical Testing at Work. Health and Safety Executive, 1-14. Retrieved from http://le at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg354.pdf
Safety in Electrical Testing: Products on production lines. HSE Information Sheet, (Engineering Information Sheet No 38). Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk
