23rd September 2026

Fencing Firm Fined After Underground Cable Strike: A Lesson in Electrical Safety

When it comes to excavation and fencing work, the ground beneath your feet can hide serious dangers. A recent case in Manchester shows how failing to prepare properly can lead to life-changing injuries and heavy fines.

The Incident

Paul Taylor was working for City Fencing Contractors Ltd on a construction site in Manchester on 21 May 2024. While using a breaker to prepare for the installation of metal fencing, he struck a live underground cable. The impact caused an electric shock that left him with severe burns to his stomach, chest and arm.

What Went Wrong

The Health and Safety Executive found that the company had not put in place adequate controls to prevent risks from underground services. It pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 25(4) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. The firm was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,487.

The Hidden Danger Of Underground Cables

Across the United Kingdom, there are around 83,900 miles of underground electrical cables and an estimated one point seven five million miles of buried pipes and cables for gas, water and telecommunications. These cables are invisible hazards that can carry high voltages and cause fatal injuries or major service disruptions if damaged.

Many underground cables look like ordinary pipes, making it impossible to tell if they are live just by looking. Previous damage that goes unreported or unrepaired increases the risk even further.

Research shows that nearly a third of workers fail to check for underground electricity cables before digging. Always brief your team and use a safety briefing on underground services before starting work in a new or untouched area.

Lessons To Be Learned

Awareness of underground services is not limited to large construction projects. Even small tasks like planting trees can be dangerous if you have not checked what lies below the surface.

Before any digging work:

• Review site plans to identify buried services
• Use a cable avoidance tool to detect live cables
• Mark the ground with paint or wooden pegs rather than metal spikes
• Carry out trial digs by hand instead of assuming there is no danger

Do not rely solely on plans, as they may be outdated. Some services are buried in plastic pipes and will not be detected by a cable avoidance tool. Underground networks may also include gas, water and telecommunications, each requiring different emergency responses.

An electricity strike can cause burns and shock, while a gas strike can lead to fire or explosion. Always have an emergency plan ready and make sure it can be adapted to different types of buried services.

Final Takeaway

The contractors in this case failed to prepare properly for excavation work, leading to a serious cable strike. To avoid repeating their mistake, ensure your staff are briefed on the dangers, know how to detect and mark underground services, and have a clear emergency plan in place.