Worker paralysed in 30ft fall from pylon gets £10m payout
The HSE found Gavin Pugh's injuries could have been prevented if correct safety steps were followed.
Gavin Pugh, a maintenance worker, suffered a paralyzing 30ft fall from a power line in April 2022 while dismantling a pylon. The incident occurred when his safety line, unknowingly, clipped a section only secure at one end, causing his safety rope to slip loose and plummeting him to the ground. This resulted in severe injuries to his brain, neck, shoulder, ribs, and internal organs, leaving him reliant on a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.
Pugh, then 33, filed a lawsuit against his employer, Wood Transmission and Distribution Ltd, following the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) findings that adequate safety arrangements were not in place. The Cheshire-based firm was fined £240,000, and high court proceedings ensued. Inspector Robert Gidman of the HSE highlighted that the accident could have been prevented with proper risk assessment, work methods, staffing, and clear procedures for transferring towers between teams.
Following out-of-court negotiations, Pugh secured a £10 million compensation package, covering his injuries, lost future earnings, 24-hour live-in carer services, and over £1 million in rehabilitation costs. Pugh, once an active and sociable individual with his own fishing boat, now faces significant physical limitations and psychological consequences.
Despite the life-altering event, he remains grateful for the settlement, which has enabled him to regain some quality of life.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
