Electrical – Worker receives high voltage electric shock from powerlines

1 February 2016

This alert is issued to inform all persons managing construction sites or working within the construction industry of the dangers of overhead powerlines. It follows another incident of a worker being hospitalised after making contact with live overhead powerlines  and receiving a high voltage electric shock.

• On Monday 30 January a worker on a scaffold received a serious electric shock from the high voltage overhead powerline adjacent to a construction site in a northern suburb of Melbourne.
• The worker was hospitalised with significant and life threatening injuries.
• The incident is currently under investigation by WorkSafe Victoria and Energy Safe Victoria.
• Builders, contractors and workers are reminded to:
  • identify any overhead powerlines that will be a hazard to those working onsite and to reduce the risks, so far as is reasonably practicable,
  • maintain clearances to overhead powerlines, and
  • if a permit to work is issued by the local power company, comply with all the permit’s requirements.

View the PDF alert