A POWER company has admitted health and safety failings after an explosion claimed a man’s life.

Engineer John Higgins, 59, died on May 7, 2008, just six months from retirement, while carrying out maintenance work at the Chelmsford North electricity substation, in Bishop Hall Lane.

At Chelmsford Crown Court last week, UK Power Networks (Operations) pleaded guilty to failing to discharge its duty after a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive.

The company will be sentenced during a hearing at the court on January 4.

A post-mortem report read at Mr Higgins’s inquest found he died of burns and inhalation of toxic gases.

He suffered 95 per cent burns after having burning oil poured over him in a flash fire.

Mr Higgins, of Albany Road, West Bergholt, was sent to the substation after an alarm was triggered. He found a fault with voltage regulating equipment which works automatically, but can be operated manually to carry out maintenance.

Mr Higgins was attempting to do this, using the handle, when the front cover exploded.

After the inquest, in which a jury returned a verdict of accidental death, Tracey Sparling, spokeswoman for UK Power Networks, said it deeply regretted the death of Mr Higgins.

The explosion caused major electrical disruption to Chelmsford with the police station, crown court and Broomfield Hospital all cut off, and prompted an investigation by Essex Police, the fire brigade, the HSE and EDF Energy, now UK Power Networks.