07:24 pm, Monday 25 January, 2010

An electrical accident involving a trainee.

In 2007, ICE Engineering and Construction Pty Ltd had engaged the then 17-year-old man as a trainee. Sometime around April of that year, the trainee was assigned to a local business to help with work on a circuit distribution board.

He was using an insulated copper to touch a circuit breaker’s live part when an arc flash resulted.

The young man was knocked to the ground and suffered burns to his neck, face, and arms.

In his decision, Industrial Magistrate Michael Ardlie said, “The defendant failed in its obligations to a very junior worker. Whilst it had safety systems in place, those safety systems were not utilised.”

The company pleaded guilty to violating section 19(1) of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986 in failing to provide a information, instruction and training.

The court heard that the trainee was supervised by a third year apprentice,  who was not qualified for the task. There was also no job safety analysis made on the tasks the trainee was supposed to do. Finally, the trainee had no understanding of the operation and design of the board and its components.

Magistrate Ardlie fined the company $15,000. He denied the company’s application not to record a conviction, explaining, “The incident … has served as a reminder to the defendant that although it may have systems in place, it does need to implement those systems at a practical level in relation to each work site it attends, especially given the environment in which it works.”

SafeWork SA Executive Director, Michele Patterson says the case is a reminder that any workplace safety system must be consistently followed in order to be fully effective.

“Statistically young workers are always at greater risk of harm, and coupled with the hazard of electricity, this incident should emphasise to the electrical services industry that young workers should always enjoy the full protection of a diligently applied safety regime.”

The man was merely three weeks into his training program when the incident happened. He has remained with the electrical and construction company.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know