07:29 am, Tuesday 25 November, 2008

NT Power and Water has been fined $70,000 for inadequate Safety Procedures that resulted in the death of a Darwin resident in 2006. (See previous story.)

The fine is the highest in the history of the NT Work Health Act. The Corporation had pleaded guilty last week in the Darwin Magistrates Court and yesterday Magistrate John Lowndes ordered NT Power and Water to pay the $70,000 fine.

The Father of five was assisting NT Power workers remove a tree from his yard that was resting on power lines. No Safety Barriers were in place, and workers has to use an insulated pole to remove the man.

NT WorkSafe executive director Laurene Hul told reporters outside the court that “The accident was preventable and this compounded the stress and trauma suffered by the man’s wife and children.

An appropriate verbal warning and the use of a visual barrier of some sort would’ve saved Mr Donohoe’s life,” Ms Hull said.

“The corporation should have had in place better training and procedures to ensure such precautions were taken.”

Better Safety Training for staff has now been implemented, as a result of an internal investigation and all vehicles performing public work are fitted with Safety Barriers.

The case is also still before the NT coroner.

OHS News Tip: Working Around Electricity Work Method Statement

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