A farm has incurred a fine of £60,000 in the aftermath of the fatality of a father-of-three who suffered a fatal electric shock from an overhead power line.
Patrick ‘Paddy’ Rice lost his life on the 13th of May, 2021, as a result of electrocution while operating a tipper lorry at Littlecombe Farm, owned by VB Farms LLP in Crediton, Devon.
The mother of the deceased, speaking on behalf of the family, expressed the deep trauma they have experienced since the 43-year-old’s passing.
Paddy Rice, a resident of Crediton, was employed by Langford Plant Hire and was in the process of delivering stone intended for the repair of farm tracks on the premises of VB Farms LLP.
The accident occurred when the hydraulic arm of the tipper lorry came into contact with an 11kV overhead power line. Paddy Rice was electrocuted after leaving the lorry.
An inquiry by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident revealed that VB Farms LLP had neglected to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the safe execution of the task and had not adequately acknowledged the risks associated with working in proximity to an overhead power line.
Although such power lines usually transmit electricity at voltages similar to the 11 kV involved in this case, they can sometimes carry voltages as high as 400 kV.
The United Kingdom’s workplace regulatory body also expressed concern over the growing trend of larger farm machinery, which heightens the likelihood of contact with power lines.
Paddy’s mother, Fran Rice, conveyed her thoughts in a statement to the court: “Paddy was an incredibly pragmatic individual. He had a wide circle of friends, was well-liked, and was always up for an adventure. Ever since Paddy’s passing, we have been grappling with trauma and profound shock. The memories are hazy, and discussing the incident is painful. Gordon, Paddy’s father, rarely speaks about it. Our lives are continuing, but ours feels stuck. We attempt to engage in activities and seek enjoyment, but it is never quite the same.”
Michele Webber, Paddy’s partner, shared her feelings in her personal account: “Following the accident, I was absent from work for about five months. My memory has suffered significantly since the incident, and I find myself fixated on the day it happened. I’m burdened by a sense of purposelessness, devoid of joy, and devoid of a sense of the future.”
VB Farms LLP, located on Love Street in Chester, was found guilty of violating work regulations in a trial held at Exeter Magistrates’ Court. The company was slapped with a fine of £60,000 and instructed to cover costs amounting to £11,715 on the 17th of August, 2023.
HSE Inspector James Collins remarked, “This incident was a tragic event that could have been entirely avoided – serving as a somber reminder of the perils of overhead power lines. Paddy’s demise could have been averted if VB Farms LLP had taken measures to mitigate the risks involved and established a secure work protocol.”
