Three companies have been collectively fined £600,000 following the tragic death of engineer Craig Stocker, who was fatally electrocuted while repairing a macerator in a hospital kitchen. The incident occurred on December 13, 2017, at Bishops Wood Hospital in Northwood, Middlesex.

Craig Stocker, employed by Serviceline (part of AFE Group), came into contact with an electrified metal section of the macerator that lacked adequate protection, resulting in the fatal incident. The macerator, responsible for food waste disposal, was being repaired at the hospital operated by BMI Healthcare (now known as Circle Health Group Limited).

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed serious flaws in the macerator’s design by Imperial Machine Company. The earthing wire could be connected ineffectively, and the equipment was permanently live. McFarlane Telfer, responsible for the macerator’s installation, failed to fit a residual current device (RCD) as per the manufacturer’s instructions. BMI Healthcare did not identify the absence of the RCD, leading to several years of operation without necessary safety measures.

Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court:

– BMI Healthcare (now Circle Health Group Limited) was found guilty of breaching Health and Safety at Work Act and fined £450,000 with additional costs.

– McFarlane Telfer Limited was found guilty of similar breaches and fined £70,000 with additional costs.

– AFE Group Limited (trading as Serviceline) was found not guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.

– Imperial Machine Company Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Act, receiving a fine of £80,000 with additional costs.

Craig Stocker’s wife, Leah, expressed the profound impact of his loss on their lives, emphasising his kind-hearted and passionate nature. HSE Inspector Kevin Shorten conveyed condolences to Mr. Stocker’s family and highlighted the severity of the fines as a stern message regarding electrical safety.

Shorten stated, “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.”