Tiger Electrical Solutions Pty Ltd has been fined $300,000 in the District Court of NSW and ordered to fund the cost of an animated educational video as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.
The proceedings arose from a fatal incident on 11 February 2022, when an apprentice electrician accessed the roof space of a residential garage through a manhole, crawled to a junction box and came into contact with live electricity while connecting new cables to the junction box.
Tiger Electrical Solutions plead guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty under section 19(1) of the Act.
The Court found the risks associated with working around electrical equipment were well known by Tiger Electrical Solutions.
The Court noted Tiger Electrical Solutions failed to implement and maintain a safe system of work for undertaking work in roof spaces, specifically the requirement to ensure all electricity in the property was turned off at the switchboard and isolated.
The Court also noted the company failed to provide information, instruction and training to workers on a safe system of work for entering roof spaces and failed to provide adequate supervision to electrical workers, especially to electrical apprentices.
In addition to the $300,000 fine, the Court imposed a Work Health and Safety Project Order which required Tiger Electrical Solutions to fund the development of an animated educational video highlighting the risks of working with electricity, as well as fund promotion of the video via social media.
Responsive sentencing orders such as these are part of SafeWork NSW's prosecution guidelines.
SafeWork NSW can recommend to the court additional sentencing orders as an opportunity to build broader awareness, share learnings and further proactively influence behaviour.
Read the full judgement on the NSW Caselaw.
Tiger Electrical Solutions Pty Ltd has the right to appeal against the sentence.
According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission records, Tiger Electrical Solutions Pty Ltd is now known as Tiger Services Group Pty Ltd.
Workers who have concerns about workplace health and safety can anonymously contact SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website at https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/advice-and-resources/speak-up-app.
Business owners and workers can access a range of resources to help manage the risks of working with electricity on the SafeWork NSW website at https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/electrical-and-power.
Quotes attributable to SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer:
"There are well-known risks when working with electrical equipment.
"It is unacceptable for workers to be exposed to electrical risks due to shortcuts.
"SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working with live electricity."
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