The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by the AIHS.
A power company in Sydney has agreed to undertake a range of safety and wellbeing initiatives after a worker suffered a non-fatal electric shock while working on overhead powerlines.
The electric shock and the undertaking
On the 29th January 2019, an overhead line worker was in a mobile elevating work platform, relocating the conductors as part of a pole changeover. He accidentally touched energised low-voltage conductors and received an electric shock.
The incident was investigated by the regulator, who accepted an enforceable undertaking from the employer. The undertaking involves a total expenditure of $1.01 million over various activities to improve the safety culture and performance of the company.
The activities and the benefits
Some of the activities that will be carried out as part of the undertaking are:
- A ‘Fit for Life’ employee wellbeing program that will provide health assessments, coaching and education for workers
- Remunerating mental health first aiders who will support workers with mental health issues
- A live-work implementation workplace audit that will review the compliance and effectiveness of live-work procedures and practices
- Electrical safety videos that will promote working safely around overhead powerlines and raise awareness of the risks and consequences of electric shocks
The regulator said that these activities are expected to deliver long-term sustainable safety improvements in the workplace, industry, and community. These actions serve to demonstrate a commitment to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Sources
$1.01 million enforceable undertaking by AIHS, 7th September, 2023.
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