Another reason for a good training level.

Taken from todays South Wales Echo:

Killed doing the job he loved
Oct 16 2007 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

THE widow of a man who died after suffering a suspected electric shock at work has paid tribute to him as “honest, loyal and funny”.

Emma Davies said her plumbing and heating engineer husband James – who was just three weeks away from his 30th birthday – died in a tragic accident while doing the job he loved.

She said he would often say he had suffered shocks and she has chosen to speak out to let people know the job can have hidden dangers.

She said: “James was always really careful and meticulous with his work. If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.”

James, from Llanishen, Cardiff, died suddenly while working at a house in Strathnairn Street, Roath, Cardiff, on Thursday.

Investigations are ongoing, but Emma, 29, believes it was a tragic accident, adding: “The police told me they are 99.9 per cent certain he had an electric shock while repairing a boiler.

“He used to come home quite a lot and say he’d had electric shocks at work. I’ve spoken to people who do the same sort of job and they say it’s quite common.

“I just want people to know that it’s not always harmless.”

Born in Rhydypennau Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff, James was one of four children.

He left school at 16 and worked as an aircraft engineer for Dara in St Athan before setting up JD Heating and Plumbing in 2003.

He and Emma, a pharmaceutical representative, met at the gym in 2002 and married three years later.

She said: “He was the life and soul of any party, but also a real family man. He was really close to his family. His dad was probably his best friend.

“James was honest, loyal and funny. He was always planning practical jokes on people.”

James loved rugby, skiing, travelling with Emma and spending time with his Rottweiler dog Logan. He and Emma had just finished decorating their home in Crystal Glen, Llanishen, and James had just bought his dream car, a TVR.

On the day of his death, he had been working alone at a house in Strathnairn Street. His two apprentices, Shaun McCarthy and Antonio O’Sullivan, were at college.

Emma said he arrived at around 3.30pm and started working on the boiler while the occupant of the house went to sleep. She said the home owner awoke and found James on the floor at around 6.45pm.

An ambulance and police were called immediately, but it is believed he died instantly.

South Wales Police and the Health and Safety Executive are continuing to investigate the incident.

Funeral arrangements will be made after the post mortem examination has been carried out.

Another sad story. Although he was a heating engineer as opposed to a whitegoods engineer, you have to stop and think about what we do, near enough the same thing!! A bloody strong motive to ensure that the WTA should go for some sort of recognised training course a?!

Adrian.