Fatality - Working near overhead powerlines

A fatality occurred on Thursday 28 April 2011 when a painter came within the exclusion zone of an energised high voltage power line. The worker was painting a sign with a conductive painter's pole from a scissor lift at the time of the incident.

The incident is currently under investigation; however initial findings indicate that the conductive pole may have come within arcing distance of the high voltage powerlines.

The Electrical Safety Office reminds workers and the general public to take extra care when working or operating machinery near powerlines.

Follow the fundamental safety principles when working near powerlines:

• Always treat powerlines as live and hazardous
• Identify the location of powerlines before commencing work. If there is any risk of injury to yourself or others use appropriate risk treatment measures.
• Identify the exclusion zone distances from powerlines and stay outside the exclusion zones.
• You are not protected from an electrical incident just because you are not touching powerlines. The size of the gap electricity can jump (the arcing distance) increases with the voltage, the higher the voltage, the bigger the arcing distance.
• Seek safety advice from the person in control of the overhead power line (Ergon Energy, Energex, Powerlink, Essential Energy etc) if a risk assessment indicates that there is a risk of persons or machinery coming into direct contact with or entering the exclusion zone of the powerline.

For more details on exclusion zones, see Part 4 and Schedule 2 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 or the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts.

Look up and live - powerline voltages are lethal.

Peter Lamont
Executive Director
Electrical Safety Office