Electrical work in question over death of young worker

THE electrician who powered a residential development where a young man was fatally electrocuted admitted he took shortcuts to save money.

Jason Garrels, 20, died after being electrocuted while working on a building site in Clermont in February 2012. Picture: Contributed

THE electrician who powered a residential development where a young man was fatally electrocuted admitted he took shortcuts to save money.

Cold Spark Pty Ltd director Nathan Day was accused of knowingly completing sub-standard work at the Clermont building site.

Mr Day told a Coronial inquest he always tried to make sure his work was as safe as possible.

However, an inspection of the cabling used to power the site revealed it had been placed directly into the ground without conduit in a number of locations, the inquest was told.

Counsel assisting the Coroner John Aberdeen said Mr Day "sneakily and cunningly" brought the conduit down from the switchboards, bent the end of it and then stuck it in the ground about six inches so it looked like the cables were covered in conduit, to which Mr Day replied "correct".

Jason, 20, died after receiving a fatal shock while moving a temporary switchboard on February 27, 2012.

The court was told Mr Day continued to complete electrical work on the project even after the electrocution death occurred.

Workplace Health and Safety inspectors, who inspected the 81-building development, identified more than 30 serious electrical breaches across 13 buildings, which could have resulted in single and multiple fatalities and fires, the court was told.

Mr Day agreed he'd taken on too big a job when asked by Coroner David O'Connell.

Expert witness and electrical engineer David Browne, who gave evidence yesterday, said it was his view there was no safety switch in the main switchboard protecting the upstream circuit that fatally shocked Jason.

Mr Browne told the court the fatality wouldn't have occurred if the electrical wiring on site had met the appropriate electrical standards.

Inquest

•  This was Nathan Day's first significant electrical job and the first time he'd worked on a building site
•  Mr Day landed the $800,000 job through the project's principal builder, who was his brother-in-law
•  Mr Day told the court there were times when he had to pay for electrical supplies with his own money

Inquest raises more queries

MICHAEL Garrels is concerned the residential site where his son was electrocuted could pose an electrical threat.

Mr Garrels said outside Mackay Courthouse yesterday the inquest into his son's death had revealed that inspectors had checked 13 units at the MacDonald Flat Rd development.

But he questioned whether the other units had been checked.

He said the inquest into Jason's death was "bittersweet" because while it brought his family closer to the truth of why his son had died, the family believed he never should have died.

Mr Garrels, who is representing the family at the inquest, said he had a picture of Jason in front of him. "That's the only thing that really keeps me on track."

Originally published as Electrical work in question over death of young worker