Council employees, agency workers and passers-by narrowly avoided electrocution or injury on two separate occasions when vehicles collecting recycled material struck overhead power lines, a court heard today.
On both occasions workers for Powys County Council were using kerb side collection vehicles that tip in order to empty material into the body of the lorries. The incidents occurred when the vehicles struck low voltage lines during tipping and sent them crashing to the ground.
On 12 September, Brecon Magistrates' Court heard that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated both incidents on 3 June 2010 and 25 October 2010 at Lluest and Tudor Street in Ystradgynlais and identified issues with the method of work.
Powys County Council, based in Llandridod Wells, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined a total of £9,300 and ordered to pay £15,990 in costs.