Electrical contractor receives 300k fine for apprentice death
Melbourne electrical contractor 3 Point Electrics Pty Ltd was hit with a $300K fine following the death of an apprentice.
The third-year apprentice was working in the roof of a residential property laying electrical cables for a smoke alarm.
While he was installing a cable, the electrical power was on and he was later discovered dead with his right hand touching a bare electrical wire.
WorkSafe Victoria found that the company had no Safe Work Method Statement prepared for the work the employee was undertaking, which exposed him to a risk of death or serious injury from electric shock or electrocution.
The employer pleaded guilty to breaching Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and was fined $300,000, plus $6067.76 costs.
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