A self-employed painter and decorator has been given a suspended prison sentence after his stepson was fatally electrocuted while working at a domestic property near Chester. Connor Lambert, 24, died in July 2024 when a ladder being moved during exterior painting work either touched an overhead power line or came close enough for an electrical arc to form. [press.hse.gov.uk], [yahoo.com]
His stepfather, Daniel Watton, trading as Inside Out Painters and Decorators Property Maintenance, pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations. Investigators found the work had not been properly planned, supervised, or risk assessed, particularly given the presence of overhead power lines. [press.hse.gov.uk], [scaffmag.com]
Connor Lambert, from Market Drayton, was expecting his first child with partner Megan McCann at the time of the incident. She described him as a caring family man with a “cheekiest grin” who was excited about becoming a father. Their daughter was born just 23 days after his death. [press.hse.gov.uk], [chestersta…dard.co.uk]
At Warrington Magistrates’ Court, Daniel Watton received a 16-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay £10,645 in costs. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the tragedy could and should have been prevented through proper planning and control measures. [scaffmag.com], [yahoo.com]
Fire Safety & Risk Management Takeaway:
This tragic case is a stark reminder that work near overhead power lines requires thorough risk assessment, appropriate equipment, competent supervision, and strict adherence to safe systems of work. A failure to identify and control hazards can have devastating consequences. [press.hse.gov.uk], [uk-safety.news]
