Working near live exposed electrical parts?
Date issued: 2008-12-10
The Electrical Safety Office was recently notified of the first reported electrical fatality for the financial year 2008/09.
While the fatality is still under investigation, there are fundamental electrical safety principles involved that must be reinforced within the electrical industry.
Tragically the fatality involved a young electrical worker who had recently completed his apprenticeship. While performing work within a switchboard he inadvertently contacted the live terminals on a main switch.
In many circumstances, the risks associated with undertaking electrical work near exposed live parts are the same as those associated with live electrical work.
Evaluating the risks and developing controls can help you to develop safer work practices.
It is vital for employers to provide adequate information to their workers so they can identify existing hazards, assess any consequential electrical risk in the course of their work and apply a safe system of work.
Together the Electrical Safety Board, the Electrical Safety Office, entities, employers, contractors and workers can improve electrical safety for all Queenslanders.
And most important of all, it means everyone gets to go home at the end of the day.
Stay safe. Turn the power off when working near live exposed parts.
Peter Lamont
Executive Director
Electrical Safety Office