Inquest into insulation deaths a timely warning

The coronial inquest into one of the deaths linked to the federal government’s Home Insulation Program (HIP) was a timely reminder about the importance of electrical safety and the use of qualified tradespeople, Master Electricians Australia has said.

Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has ordered the inquest into the death of Matthew James Fuller, who was electrocuted while installing foil insulation in 2009. Master Electricians Chief Executive Malcolm Richards said the tragic deaths during the HIP highlighted the importance of basic electrical safety measures that should be in place in all Australian homes.

“As a result of the tragic deaths associated with this scheme, Master Electricians undertook research into preventable electrical deaths in Australian homes,” Richards said.

“That research showed that around 15 people die and around 300 are hospitalised across Australia each year as a result of domestic electrical accidents that could be prevented with the use of safety switches.

“A safety switch can detect an electric shock and cut the flow of power in a few hundredths of a second - faster than the critical phase of a heartbeat. However, while homes built since the early 1990s have one or two safety switches, many homes have none and very few homes have electrical protection on all circuits.

“Master Electricians recommends you have a safety switch fitted to every circuit in your home. Further, we believe this level of protection should be mandatory in all Australian homes and we hope this is something the coroner will consider as part of their investigation.”

Richards also said homeowners and tradespeople should ensure the main supply of electricity was turned off before they entered the roof space of a home. “Roof cavities are dangerous places, particularly in older homes where insulation may have deteriorated over time.

“Ideally, only trained tradespeople should operate in the ceiling; but in any case, turning off the supply of electricity at the switchboard will significantly reduce the risk of shock or electrocution.”