Electrical contractor fined for grievous bodily harm

NQ Mining Services Pty Ltd, a North Queensland electrical contractor, was fined $37,500 plus investigation and professional costs for breaching the Electrical Safety Act 2002. The fine was handed down on 14 August 2007 for breaches of sections 27(b) and 30 (2) of the Act.

On the day of the incident, in August 2005, workers for the company were undertaking maintenance work at one of Townsville City Council’s water treatment plants.

The work involved use of a crane. According to witnesses the crane hook was being moved into place by a rigger, and as he was doing so the lifting gear came into contact with an 11kV overhead conductor.

The rigger suffered burns to 28 per cent of his body, resulting in a charge of grievous bodily harm against the company.

When passing sentence Industrial Magistrate Mr Scott Luxton noted that employers are required to ensure that their employees are free from injury or the risk of injury arising out of the conduct of the employers business or undertaking.

"Workers are to be protected whether they are fit or fatigued, careful or careless, experienced or inexperienced, overconfident of their skills or simply foolish," Mr Luxton said.