Fatality of Power line Rigger

The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) are assisting Comcare in their investigation of the fatality of a power line rigger which occurred on 5 December 2009 at Upper Ross, Townsville. The worker was employed by a contractor engaged to erect a new transmission line adjacent to an existing 275KV power line. A second person received burns resulting from this incident and was hospitalised.

An investigation is currently underway, however, early indications are that induced voltages may have contributed to this incident.

The Electrical Safety Act 2002 (the Act) requires employers or self-employed persons to conduct their businesses in a way that is electrically safe. This provision also applies to businesses engaged in non-electrical work.

Electricity entities (including their contractors) and employers/self employed persons engaged to work on power lines near existing energised high voltage power lines must ensure they have implemented a safe system of work. This safe system of work must include control measures to manage risks in relation to voltage induction. If these risks cannot be managed then the work must not proceed.

Barry Dieckmann
Acting Executive Director
Electrical Safety Office