Day 132 - 07 Jun 95 - Page 48


     
     1        necessary.  Frank must have felt that, to put it in common
     2        parlance, somebody got a belter off a piece of equipment
     3        and not reported it and so obviously you would take
     4        immediate action which I -----
     5
     6   Q.   He used the word "severe"?
     7        A.  Well, as I say, I do not know what he means by that.
     8        If you take -- if you get a belt of electricity at mains
     9        voltage, it is always severe.  Sometimes you are very
    10        lucky, sometimes nothing happens, or whatever.  In fact,
    11        I would say, probably 90 per cent of the time nothing
    12        happens.  But, nevertheless, he obviously felt that the
    13        situation needed further reinforcing and I would obviously
    14        endorse that and go along with it.
    15
    16   Q.   So in terms of a severe electric shock potentially it can
    17        be fatal?
    18        A.  Of course it can be; that is why Frank had taken the
    19        issue.  We all know, sadly, that it can be.  I mean, if you
    20        look at the industry at large, there are very few fatal
    21        electrocutions in terms of mains voltage in the sort of
    22        premises we are talking about.  Obviously one is too many
    23        and, obviously, Frank thought action be taken which is
    24        appropriate.
    25
    26   Q.   No further questions.
    27        ^
    28                    Re-examined by MR. RAMPTON, Q.C.
    29
    30   Q.   Just one matter, Mr. Purslow, arising out of that most
    31        recent sequence of questions, can I ask you to find pink
    32        file XIII Employment, please, and turn please to the first
    33        tab which is tab 52.  I can tell you that, so far as we are
    34        aware, this is to be found (which I do not ask you to look
    35        at) in tab 57-S, the Harbourn accident which took place on
    36        25th July 1992.  Could you, please, turn first in tab 52,
    37        if I can find it, to page 779?
    38        A.  Yes.
    39
    40   Q.   This is a memorandum dated 7th September 1992?
    41        A.  Yes.
    42
    43   Q.   It comes from Keith Smith who, we are told, is a corporate
    44        person, he is not a regional person, is that right, so far
    45        as you know?
    46        A.  As far as I am aware, yes.
    47
    48   Q.   I remind you, if you need reminding, that the accident to
    49        Mark Hopkins took place on 12th October 1992, that is to
    50        say, just over a month after this memorandum? 
    51        A.  Yes. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Do you remember whether you were shown a copy of this
    54        memorandum at the time?
    55        A.  I do not, Mr. Rampton, I am sorry.
    56
    57   Q.   Can you look, please, at the third para. of this
    58        memorandum?
    59        A.  Yes.
    60

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