Company fined $300,000 after worker gets electric shock
A company was fined $300,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW after a worker received an electric shock when a steel cage hit powerlines.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by SafeWork NSW.
Incident Overview
A company was fined $300,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW following a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.
The proceedings arose from an incident on 5 December 2022, when a worker received an electric shock after a 16‑metre steel reinforcement cage buckled and fell onto two 11,000‑volt overhead powerlines while being lifted by a rig.
Legal Outcome
The company pleaded guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty under section 19(1) of the Act.
Commissioner’s Statement
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer stated, "Risk control measures for working with mobile plant near power lines are well known.
Contact with overhead power lines is a serious risk that can result in electrocution, electric shock or burns. Other risks include fires and explosions that may immobilise mobile plant involved in work.
Employers and duty holders must ensure no person or plant comes within an unsafe distance of any overhead power line so far as it is reasonably practicable."
