Convictions over electrocution at Victorian construction site

Two companies and a company director were convicted at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court over a 2008 incident where a 21-year-old worker was electrocuted by overhead powerlines on a building site. The incident occurred despite warnings from the network electricity supplier to the company responsible for the site, Hometec Industries and director Carmine Salvatore. Hometec and Salvatore were convicted and fined $30,000 and $20,000 respectively.

Roofing and installation company CSR Building Products was also convicted and ordered to pay $12,500 to the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) at Monash University, for failing to adequately train and supervise workers installing the roofing.

CSR Building Products had engaged the injured worker’s employer and brother, who was convicted and fined $8000 earlier this year for failing to perform a job safety analysis which considered hazards including powerlines.

The incident occurred when the injured worker was helping install a roof on a domestic construction site, when he made contact with an overhead powerline. He suffered serious burn injuries to both his hands and left foot.

“What has happened here is a number of failures in a chain of responsibility,” WorkSafe’s Executive Director for Health and Safety Ian Forsyth said. “Hometec and its director were warned about the no-go zone by the electricity supplier and ordered to stop construction work, yet they failed to do so.

“CSR Building Products had a responsibility to make sure their contractors could do their job safely - which they failed to uphold.

“And the worker’s direct employer had an obligation to make sure the construction site was safe by performing a job safety analysis which considered risks including powerlines.

“None of these parties managed to fulfil their responsibilities. The upshot of all of this is that a young worker suffered debilitating injuries with long recovery times.

“There were no excuses for ignoring no-go zones. The risks around working near overhead powerlines are well known. The new no-go zone rules were introduced over a decade ago. In this case, despite warnings from the network electricity supplier, the company and its director showed blatant disregard for the risks.

“Employers have an added level of responsibility when supervising young workers. Young workers are more likely to suffer a workplace injury than any other age group, and more likely to be hospitalised as a result. Managers and supervisors need to be sure young workers are trained and supervised so that they can carry out their job safely.”