An investigation is underway into why a hazardous live cable which killed an electrician in November last year, was installed at the Nestles factory in Hayes.

Father-of-three Feltham man Antony John Allen, 33, who was described by his wife Theresa as a cautious and methodical worker, was certified dead at the scene after being electrocuted by 250 volts from a live electric cable, an inquest at Hammersmith Coroners Court heard on Monday last week, May 8.

He had been thrown seven feet off a ladder after touching the exposed cable at the factory in Nestles Road.

The specialist inspector for the Health and Safety Executive said the cable had an extremely hazardous 40 millimetres of copper wiring without insulation.

'If it had been made up properly, we would not be here today,' he said. Allen had been stripping disused cables with workmate Warren Bowler, in the part of the factory which produces coffee. 'I looked up and saw a slight arc coming from Tony's hand.

'Within a few seconds, he fell off the ladder. Apart from a slight quiver of his lip, he was motionless and I could not find a pulse,' Mr Bowler said.

Pathologist Dr Robert Chapman gave the cause of death as electrocution and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said the investigation was expected to continue for another two or three weeks.

David Batman, head of occupational health at Nestles, said he was unable to make any comment during the investigation.