16th July 2026

Liverpool Fencing Contractor Fined After Worker Suffers Severe Electric Shock

A Liverpool fencing contractor has been fined following a serious incident in which an employee suffered an electric shock and multiple burn injuries after striking a live underground cable on a Manchester construction site.

What Happened on Site

On 21 May 2024, Paul Taylor, an employee of City Fencing Contractors Limited, was installing security fencing at Meade Hill Shul synagogue on Meade Hill Road, Manchester. While using a breaker to prepare the ground for metal fencing, the 59-year-old father of three struck a live underground electrical cable.

The impact caused a powerful electric shock, leaving Mr Taylor with significant burn injuries across his stomach, chest and arms. His workwear was visibly scorched in the aftermath of the incident.

HSE Investigation: What Went Wrong

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that City Fencing Contractors Limited had failed to put suitable and sufficient controls in place to manage risks associated with underground services.

HSE guidance is clear: no construction work should take place near underground services unless proper steps have been taken to identify, assess and control the risks.

A safe system of work must include:

• Planning the work; assessing risks, reviewing site conditions and preparing method statements.
• Detecting and marking underground services; obtaining service plans, using locating devices and ensuring competent personnel carry out tracing.
• Safe excavation practices; careful digging, continuous monitoring and adherence to recognised safe-digging techniques.

Before any excavation begins, underground cables must be accurately located, identified and clearly marked. Plans alone are not enough; they provide only an indication of where services may be. Physical tracing by a competent person is essential.

Court Outcome

City Fencing Contractors Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 25(4) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

At Warrington Magistrates Court on 26 May 2026, the company was:

• Fined £10,000
• Ordered to pay £5,487 in costs

HSE’s Statement

HSE inspector John Padfield emphasised the seriousness of the incident:

“Underground services are widespread and represent a significant risk. It is important measures are taken to identify them before any excavation work is undertaken.”

He added that the burns suffered could have been much worse, potentially fatal, and that the incident would have been avoided had the company followed established HSE guidance.

Further guidance is available via HSE’s resource on Excavation and underground services.