A woman has paid tribute to her “kind-hearted” husband who had a fatal electric shock while fixing an appliance under a hospital kitchen sink.

Three companies have been fined a total of £600,000 for health and safety breaches after engineer Craig Stocker died while repairing a food waste disposal unit, or macerator, at Bishops Wood Hospital in Northwood.

The 36-year-old, who lived in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, was electrocuted in December 2017 when he touched a metal section of the appliance that was not protected by an earth wire.  

It is believed that this happened after the macerator had been electrified when water entered its wiring.

This Is Local London: The macerator was in the kitchen at Bishops Wood HospitalThe macerator was in the kitchen at Bishops Wood Hospital (Image: Health and Safety Executive)

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident found that the macerator, designed by Imperial Machine Company, had serious flaws.

Its earthing wire could be connected in a way that meant it was ineffective, and the equipment was also permanently live.

The macerator had been installed by commercial maintenance firm McFarlane Telfer in 2013.

Investigators found McFarlane Telfer had not acted on the manufacturer’s instructions requiring a residual current device, which switches off electricity automatically if there is a fault, to be fitted.

BMI Healthcare, which operates the hospital, did not identify that this device was not fitted and the machine was operated for several years before the incident occurred.

Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, Craig’s employer, AFE Group Limited (trading as Serviceline), was found not guilty of breaching health and safety regulations.

Speaking after sentencing yesterday (October 3), Craig’s wife Leah said: “On the day that Craig died, our lives changed in many ways.

“Nothing can prepare you for this, nothing can prepare you for the psychological and emotional turmoil this causes to one’s mental health.

“Craig is missed by many people, myself and his mum Dianne in particular.

“Craig you are missed, you will always be missed but forever in our thoughts and hearts you will remain.”

This Is Local London: Craig Stocker and his wife LeahCraig Stocker and his wife Leah (Image: Health and Safety Executive)

The fines and costs that each company was ordered to pay is as follows:

  • BMI Healthcare (now Circle Health Group Limited), of Cannon Street, London – found guilty, fined £450,000 and ordered to pay £106,895 in costs
  • McFarlane Telfer Limited, of Westacott Way, Littlewick Green, Maidenhead – found guilty, fined £70,000 and ordered to pay £106,753 in costs
  • Imperial Machine Company Limited, of Whisby Road, Lincoln – pleaded guilty, fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £12,945