Three Firms Hit with £600k Fine After Engineer Electrocuted in Hospital
Three companies have been slapped with a combined £600,000 fine following the tragic death of engineer Craig Stocker. Craig was fatally electrocuted while fixing a macerator in a hospital kitchen back in December 2017.
Fatal Shock at Bishops Wood Hospital
The horrifying incident happened at Bishops Wood Hospital in Northwood, Middlesex. Craig, working for Serviceline (part of AFE Group), touched an electrified metal part of the macerator that had no proper protection. The macerator is a machine used to dump food waste safely in the hospital run by BMI Healthcare (now Circle Health Group).
Investigation Exposes Shocking Safety Failings
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inquiry revealed serious design faults by Imperial Machine Company. The earthing wire could be connected wrongly, leaving the equipment dangerously live. To make matters worse, McFarlane Telfer, who installed the macerator, failed to fit a vital safety device called a Residual Current Device (RCD) – a simple safeguard manufacturers required. BMI Healthcare also missed the absence of this key protection, allowing years of unsafe operation.
Court Verdicts: Huge Fines and Guilty Pleas
- BMI Healthcare (Circle Health Group): Guilty of breaching Health and Safety laws. Fined £450,000 plus costs.
- McFarlane Telfer Ltd: Also guilty. Fined £70,000 plus costs.
- AFE Group Ltd (Serviceline): Cleared of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
- Imperial Machine Company Ltd: Pleaded guilty. Fined £80,000 plus costs.
The trial took place at Southwark Crown Court.
Family Heartbreak and Safety Warning
Craig’s wife, Leah, spoke about their devastating loss, remembering him as kind-hearted and passionate. HSE Inspector Kevin Shorten sent condolences to the family and warned businesses about the severe consequences of neglecting electrical safety.
“The fines imposed should underline to manufacturers, contractors, and building owners that the courts, and HSE, take a failure to ensure electrical safety extremely seriously. We will not hesitate to take action against companies which do not do all that they should to keep people safe.” – HSE Inspector Kevin Shorten
