SafeWork SA issues warning after 270 electric shocks and risks in past year
Businesses are on notice after hundreds of electric shocks, and risks of shocks, were reported to SafeWorkSA in the past 12 months.
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Almost 270 incidents of electric shock or risk of electric shock were reported to the state’s workplace health and safety regulator in the past year.
SafeWork SA has revealed that a plumber who was electrocuted and an electrician who is fighting for life were victims of power not being properly disconnected from the supply.
A 40-year-old plumber was electrocuted when installing a hot water system at Tailem Bend property about 1.15pm on September 18.
Just 10 days later, a 25-year-old electrician was critically injured from an electric shock while working on an airconditioning unit in the roof cavity of a Goodwood beauty salon.
The man remains in a critical condition in Royal Adelaide Hospital.
“Both incidents were the result of power not being properly de-energised,” a SafeWork spokeswoman said.
“SafeWork SA reminds businesses of the risk of electric shock or electrocution where the electrical supply has not been de-energised.”
Latest SafeWork figures show it has received 267 notifications of electric shock or risk of electric shock over the past 12 months.
The electrocution at Tailem Bend is the only incident of its type reported in the past year.
The spokeswoman said SafeWork must be notified of any dangerous incidents even if no one was injured.
She said this included workplaces that exposed any person to a serious risk resulting from an immediate or imminent exposure to an electric shock.
