The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced a £1.34 million fine for Openreach following an investigation into the tragic death of an engineer.

Alun Owen, from Bethesda, died while attempting to repair a telephone line spanning the River Aber in Abergwyngregyn.

Several engineers had been working to repair telephone lines in the area over a two-month period, operating both near and in the river. Due to flooding at the time of the incident, the river’s water level was significantly higher and its flow much faster than usual.

Mr. Owen had entered the river, reaching an island in the middle to throw a new telephone cable to the other side by taping it to a hammer and tossing it. While trying to cross the remaining part of the river, he slipped into a deeper section and was swept away by the strong current.

The investigation, conducted by North Wales Police and HSE, revealed that there was no safe system of work in place. Mr. Owen and his colleagues had not received any training, information, or instructions on safe working practices near water.

Openreach pleaded guilty and has been fined and ordered to pay costs.

HSE emphasized that Mr. Owen should not have been placed in such an unsafe working environment. The organization reminds businesses with staff working on or near water of the necessity to have an effective safe system of work in place.

For more information, visit: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2024/06/05/openreach-fined-following-death-of-engineer