Electrocution cable 'not in use'

Michael Adamson was electrocuted as he worked at JJB Sports in Dundee

An electrician who died during the construction of a fitness centre in Dundee had touched a cable marked "not in use", a court has heard.

Michael Adamson, 26, from Bo'ness, was electrocuted in 2005 as he attempted to connect cables at JJB Sports.

Mitie Engineering Services and three senior employees are on trial at Dundee Sheriff Court accused of contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act.

They deny the charges. The trial is expected to last three weeks.

The charges include failing to provide a safe system of working, training, supervision, risk assessment and resources; failing to test circuits and wires into a distribution board before they were made live; and failing to ensure the board was not live while employees worked on circuits connected to it.

'Pulling cables'

Managing director William Mitchell, operations director Scott Wallace and technical services manager Ian Storrar deny the alleged offence was committed with their consent or connivance or was attributable to their neglect.

In court, a former colleague of Mr Adamson, electrician James Kelly, said they had been pulling cables along a false ceiling at the JJB premises in the Gallagher Retail Park when the incident happened.

He had been holding the bottom of a ladder to support Mr Adamson when he saw his arm touch a wire.

He shouted to him but thought loud music was playing as the speaker system was being tested and could not say if Mr Adamson had heard.

He then saw the ceiling move up by about an inch then by about six inches as Mr Adamson was electrocuted.

Mr Kelly also told the court that the cable being worked on was labelled "not in use" and that they would not have expected it to be live.