A NEWPORT company was fined £60,000 for health and safety failings after a self-employed construction worker suffered serious burns following an electric shock from an overhead power cable.

Morspan Construction Limited, of Gold Tops, was the main contractor and the designer and manufacturer of a steel frame which steel erecter Mark Rushbrook was working with while constructing two new poultry units at Sunny Farm in Swineshead, Bedfordshire, on June 25, 2009.

Mr Rushbrook, 24, of West Winch, King's Lynn, Norfolk, was using a scissor lift to clad the gable end of the steel frame when it came into contact with a power cable.

He suffered an 11kv electrical shock and sustained burns to his stomach and hands and internal muscle damage.

An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the gable end of the structure was within just 4.3 metres of an overhead power line.

HSE told Luton Crown Court that the company, as well as other defendants involved in the case, failed to identify the potential risks of working near overhead voltage lines and had not put necessary precautions in place, including notifying the relevant authorities.

Morspan Construction Limited admitted breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined £30,000.

It was also fined £30,000 after admitting breaching regulation 19(1)(c) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

The company was also ordered to pay £5,250 costs.

Other parties involved were fined a total of £70,000 and £7,250 costs.