The employee suffered flash burns and electric shock during the accident which occurred on Main Road, Romford in December 2007. The worker, who was untrained, was using the hydraulic breaker to dig holes for the installation of a new bench.
LB Havering, based in east London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined ВЈ10,000 and ordered to pay costs of ВЈ9,810 at City of London Magistrates Court.
John Crookes, Health and Safety Executive inspector, said: "This incident could have been fatal. London Borough of Havering failed to provide a safe system of work as a result of which a temporary council worker was injured."
