Worker suffers burns on 40% of his body after receiving 33,000-volt electric shock
An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, has determined that National Grid Electricity Distribution Plc and 4 Power Ltd could have prevented the life-changing injuries suffered by a worker. Justin Hollins was at Treforest Industrial Estate in Pontypridd, attempting to replace step bolts on the pylon/transmission tower when the incident occurred. The 50-year-old worker received an electric shock of 33 thousand volts, resulting in burns to 40% of his body. Hollins, who sustained burns on his arms and legs and lost part of his right buttock, had six operations during his first 10 days in the hospital.
The HSE investigation determined that 4 Power Ltd did not plan and assess the risks. Otherwise, the company would have realized that the arms of the pylon were too short to do the work safely, while maintaining the specified safety distances as per industry standard. HSE officials also determined that National Grid Electricity Distribution Plc failed to verify that the electricity was off in order to do this work safely on the pylon.
4 Power Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and have been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,123. National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) Plc pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and have been fined £3.2million and ordered to pay costs of £20,460.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, HSE Inspector Rhys Hughes said, “The injuries sustained by Mr Hollins have been truly life-changing. He is lucky to be alive. Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information and instruction to workers. What is so frustrating in incidents like these is if a safe system of work had been in place before the incident, his injuries would have been prevented.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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