Electrocuted in a hospital waste disposal unit
An engineer died when he was electrocuted as he repaired a waste disposal unit at a private hospital, a court heard.
The lifeless body of Craig Stocker, 36, was found in the kitchen of the Bishops Wood Hospital in Harrow, on 13 December 2017, when it was run by BMI Healthcare Limited.
Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, said: ‘Craig Stocker was killed while at work. He was employed as a service engineer.
‘He was set to carry out repairs in the waste disposal unit in the kitchen at one of BMI’s hospitals in Bishops Wood.’
‘Having repaired the machine he received an electric shock, and was found unconscious.’
‘Despite emergency first aid, life was declared extinct at 14:15pm that afternoon.’
‘A post mortem exam gave the cause of death as electrocution.’
Southwark Crown Court heard how the engineer was electrocuted after he touched the metal casing on the motor of the waste disposal unit.
‘Unbeknown to him, however, the unit had an electrical fault which meant that it
was not earthed’, said Ms Heer.
‘Having repaired the machine and connected it to the mains electrical supply he
received an electric shock and was found unconscious.’
He was rushed to Watford General Hospital but could not be saved.
Stocker’s wife, Leah Paige, said in a victim impact statement read to the court.
‘Craig was a family man, both with his family and with my family.
‘Craig’s passing left a hole in many a heart, especially mine and also his mother’s.
‘Craig was Diane’s only son, and their bond was heartwarming.
‘Craig was a kind-hearted man. A hardworking and caring individual.
‘He was the life and soul of any party. I feel emotionally broken.
‘I cannot deal with the day to day grief that it causes me.
‘Craig was taken from myself and his mother because of someone’s incompetence.
‘I pray that no one else will lose their loved ones like I lost Craig.’
‘We hope that people will learn from this tragic accident and that no one else will have to lose their life.’
BMI Healthcare Limited (BMI) was incorporated in 1987.
It was one of the UK’s largest private hospital operators, operating over 50 hospitals and clinics.
At the time of these events it employed over 7,000 people. In 2022 it changed its name to Circle Health Group Limited.
Earlies this year BMI Healthcare, along with McFarlane Telfer Limited was convicted of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
McFarlane Telfer, incorporated in 1998, maintains commercial kitchens for corporate customers, education and healthcare providers,major venues and the public sector.
A third company, Imperial Machine Company Limited, also admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Imperial Machine Company was incorporated in 1917 manufacturing commercial catering and ventilation equipment.
In 2013 it employed 83 people but in December 2020 its trade and assets were sold to a sister
company, Lincat Limited. Imperial then ceased trading.
Defending BMI, Prashant Popat KC said: ‘They apologise fully and unreservedly for the breach.
‘BMI is very sorry for that failure.
‘BMI prides itself on ensuring the safety of all those who work for it or are affected by the work that it does.
‘BMI accepts the finding of its guilt.
‘They have carried out all the necessary steps to improve its safety.’
Mr Popat told the court that BMI had supported the NHS during the Covid pandemic.
‘BMI invested large sums of money, many millions, during the pandemic to support the NHS.
‘They did that because they recognised they had to help with the response to the incredible events that occurred throughout the country.
‘That should be taken into account in its mitigation.’
Mr Popat accepted that BMI had not done what it should have done.
‘They failed to ensure that their contractors did what they should have done.’
Judge David Tomlinson is due to sentence the three companies later today.
