Paul Taylor, 59,was working for City Fencing Contractors Limited on a construction site in Manchester on 21 May 2024. He had been part of a team installing security fencing to the Meade Hill Shul synagogue.

He was using a breaker to dig into the ground in preparation to install the metal fencing when the father-of-three struck a live underground cable causing electric shock, which resulted in him sustaining multiple burn injuries to his stomach, chest and arms.

An HSE investigation found that City Fencing Contractors Limited had failed to implement suitable and sufficient controls to prevent risk from underground services.

Plans or other suitable information about all buried services in the area should be obtained and reviewed before any excavation work starts.

City Fencing Contractors Limited, of Liverpool, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,487 costs at Warrington Magistrates Court this week.

HSE inspector John Padfield said: “Underground services are widespread and represent a significant risk.

“It is important measures are taken to identify them before any excavation work is undertaken.

“On this occasion, an electrical cable was struck and an operative suffered severe burns.

“However, it could have been much worse and potentially fatal. Had the company implemented an effective safe system of work following HSE guidance, this incident would not have occurred.”