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Family of electrocuted man call for changes to law


BBC Jason Knight wears a black t-shirt and sits on a couchBBC

Jason Knight survived a 33,000 volt shock

The family of a Wiltshire man who was electrocuted while cleaning windows are trying to get health and safety laws changed to stop it happening again.

Jason Knight from Westbury lost his arm and several toes after electricity jumped about two metres (6.6ft) from a power cable to his cleaning pole.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made inquiries into the incident but concluded there was no breach of regulations that would lead to a criminal investigation.

Mr Knight and his dad John are now campaigning for changes to the materials used in window cleaning poles.

PA REAL LIFE/PA Jason Knight lies in a hospital bed. He is hooked up to machines with various wires attached to his body.PA REAL LIFE/PA

Mr Knight lost his left forearm and several toes

John said the first and second sections of a window-cleaning pole are “crucial for survival”.

He explained that the reason that his son survived was because the section he was holding to operate the pole was insulated.

“The main problem was every section after the section he was holding is non-insulated,” he told the BBC.

“When he reached up and he touched the second section to bring the pole down and reduced the height of the pole, he touched an un-insulated section and earthed himself, causing the electrical current to jump.”

PA Real Life/PA Jason Knight stands in front of a van holding onto his window cleaning pole. The van has the logo for his company H2O Vision and has blue and white graphics.PA Real Life/PA

Mr Knight’s family want changes made to the materials of poles

The family have the support of their local MP Andrew Murrison and a pole manufacturer in Swindon.

Craig Mawlam, owner of Ionic Systems, said campaigners were calling for the handle and first section of window cleaning poles to be produced to a British Standard introduced in 2011 for any tool that may come into contact with overhead powerlines.

“In doing so, you’re increasing the safe distance from the powerline,” he said.



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