WorkSafe Victoria is urging employers operating mobile machinery near overhead powerlines to put safety first following a recent spate of electric shock incidents.
Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe, Julie Nielsen said that since November, one worker had died and five others were taken to hospital with serious injuries after their machinery contacted powerlines.
“A 54-year-old construction worker was taken to hospital in a critical condition on Monday [3 May] following an electric shock when the arm of the excavator on his truck struck powerlines at Pakenham,” Ms Neilson said.
“Two construction workers were injured, one critically, when a crane arm struck live 22kV lines at Dromana on 12 April,” she said.
“On 30 April a tipper truck driver was taken to hospital in a serious condition after his truck hit a high voltage conductor at Narracan, near Moe.”
Ms Neilson said a 72-year farmer was airlifted to hospital last month after the auger he was moving with a forklift touched powerlines and resulted in serious injuries.
She said that on 12 November a farm hand died while using a telehandler to move hay bales when a raised attachment hit powerlines and there was also a serious incident in March, when the Princes Highway was shut at Panmure after powerlines were pulled down onto the road by a dump truck.
Ms Nielsen said that no matter the situation, care had to be taken when using machinery near electrical wires.
“Electrocution can occur in just moments and if an electric shock doesn’t kill, injuries can be severe and life-long,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are a large employer in construction, transport or a sole farm operator, all duty holders should review their systems of work when operating near overhead powerlines.”
Ms Nielsen said WorkSafe would not hesitate to prosecute duty holders that failed to protect workers.
