Electrical Safety

Electrocution is one of the leading causes of death for construction workers, including electricians, and each year WorkSafe ACT is notified about electric shock incidents.

Inspectors regularly take enforcement action for electrical safety issues, including:

  • portable electrical equipment that has not been inspected and maintained (tested and tagged)
  • residual current devices (RCDs) that have not been inspected and tested at the required intervals
  • workers breaching the “No Go Zone” of overhead powerlines
  • unidentified live permanent wiring
  • electrical equipment or wiring that has not been de-energised when working on or near it
  • construction switchboards that are not installed or maintained in a safe manner, and
  • safe work method statements (SWMS) that are missing, inadequate or not followed when undertaking work on or near energised electrical installation or services.

Working safely around electricity

A recent incident reported to WorkSafe ACT involved an electrical shock to a worker undertaking facia replacement work whilst working near powerlines connected to a residential property. The worker was standing on a scaffold at the time and was thrown off the scaffold deck, falling to the ground unconscious.

WorkSafe ACT investigations into the incident revealed that the power lines leading to the residential property were in poor condition with exposed wiring evident. The worker’s head had come into contact with these exposed wires.

PCBUs are reminded that, at all times, elimination is the first step to managing any risk or hazard at the workplace.

In this incident, the network feed into the residential property had not been de-energised which would have eliminated the risk to all workers onsite working near the network power lines. A risk assessment did not identify the exposed wiring due to the deteriorating of the insulation. The electrical network needs to be fully inspected and assessed for safety and de-energised as required before work such as scaffolding, or maintenance is carried out near the network supply lines.

You can call WorkSafe ACT on 13 22 81, after hours on 0419 120 028. You can make a notification using the online form.

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