Electrical deaths in Queensland

The dangers of working with or around electricity have been tragically highlighted by the occurrence of six confirmed electrocution deaths since the beginning of 2011.

Such deaths are made more tragic by the fact that they need not have happened.

Three of the deaths resulted from contact with overhead powerlines, two could have been prevented by the fitting of safety switches to protect all electrical circuits, including those for power and light, and one was associated with the use of welding equipment.
 
All could have been prevented by careful prior risk assessment and the use of safe working practices.

The Electrical Safety Office (ESO), along with Ergon Energy, Energex and Essential Energy has consistently warned of the dangers of overhead powerlines in their “Look Up and Live” campaigns. All have also promoted the protective benefits of safety switches.

Safe working distances from powerlines and standards for the operation of mobile plant are prescribed in electrical safety legislation.

The Safety Switches Save Lives message has also been an ongoing focus of the ESO, with new requirements introduced last year for them to be fitted where conductive ceiling insulation was installed.

We all need to pay greater attention to ensuring that our workplaces and homes are fully protected by safety switches, so that similar tragedies can be avoided in future.

All businesses, workers and householders need to follow safe work practices and to avoid unnecessary risks in working around electricity, and to ensure that safety switch protection is fitted to all circuits in their home or at their work.