29 September 2020
Subcontractor’s poor electrical work resulted in three workers suffering electric shock injuries at a Commercial Property Site in Auckland.
In October 2018, three Auckland workers suffered electric shocks as the result of botched electrical work at a worksite in Henderson. Thor Electrical and Maintenance Services Limited was sentenced to $77,350 at the Auckland District Court last week for its role in the incident. Earlier this year Kennith Johnson, an electrical inspector, was also fined $15,000 for his role in negligently inspecting the poorly executed electrical work, which could have resulted in fatal injuries to workers.
Thor Electrical was engaged by a construction company to complete electrical work at a commercial property site. As part of the work, they were asked to install a Builders Temporary Supply (BTS) at the site to allow workers to access mains power. However, the work was not completed correctly as the electrician completing the work had misidentified the phase and neutral conductors, resulting in a transposition.
Mr Johnson was then engaged to inspect the prescribed electrical work done on the BTS and connect it to electricity, so it could be used on site. Mr Johnson failed to carry out mandatory testing before connecting the BTS to mains power. Mr Johnson also failed to sight a completed Certificate of Compliance before inspecting, connecting, declaring the installation safe to use and leaving the site.
A week later two workers from the construction company on site sustained electric shocks from the BTS. Thor Electrical were contacted as a result and while investigating the issue, one of its workers also suffered an electric shock. Energy Safety manager Mark Wogan said the job was carried out poorly from start to finish. “Energy Safety will not tolerate this type of complacency as in the past, New Zealand has recorded deaths as a result of this type of negligence.
“Thor Electrical did not provide safe working procedures for employees to follow, correct equipment or adequate training. Then despite failing to complete mandatory testing or to see a completed Certificate of Compliance, Kennith Johnson connected the BTS to the mains supply. “A number of negligent behaviours resulted in three workers potentially being exposed to serious harm. The danger of working with electricity is very real and businesses should take this sentencing as a wakeup call. “You must always ensure work is carried out in a safe manner and in line with Electricity (Safety) Regulations."
30 September 2020
Four Farm Fatalities for September all of which are going through the investigation phase. Two involved tractors in Te Kuiti and Hastings, another involved a child in a dairy shed in Opotiki, and the fourth was a quad bike rollover in Central Hawke’s Bay.
The two tractor incidents appear to have involved tractor drivers feeding out on steep terrain. Initial reports indicate that the tractors may have slipped causing the drivers to lose control.
WorkSafe understands the dairy shed incident involved a piece of machinery. Last week’s quad bike incident occurred on steep terrain.
The investigations taking place will inform an accurate picture of the events but WorkSafe engagement lead for agriculture Al McCone, says immediate lessons from the events should be quickly heeded by others in the industry.
“This is the time of year where a lot of work is taking place. Farm work consists of a never-ending list of tasks and constant reprioritisation as weather, commodity prices and other factors outside and inside the farmer's influence change.
“It is a time of variable weather and growth, and variable ground surface conditions. Slope surfaces are especially tricky at this time of year.
“There is also a shortage of contractors and some farmers will be doing tractor work that normally a contractor might do with equipment better suited to the task.
“We cannot let these challenges contribute to loss of life or injury. The people with the most power to influence this are those on the ground each day doing the work.
McCone says seatbelts should also be worn when doing farm work.
“Mistakes happen and your seatbelt might be the difference between a sore neck and a broken one”.
Understanding the role children play in a farming business is also critical says McCone.
“Too often we are seeing children fatally injured in the workplace. That extends beyond the farm into other industries as well. From experience, we know that keeping an eye on them can be hard in a busy workplace.
“If your kids need to go to work with you, have a system in place that isolates them from where work is happening or where risks may be present.”
McCone’s recommendations for reducing the risk of harm on farm this season include:
Prioritising tractor and machinery maintenance. That should include attachments, good tyres and brakes.
Tired people make mistakes. Do difficult things earlier in the day - save the easy stuff for later.
If your vehicle is fitted with a seatbelt – you should be using it.
Consider installing crush protection on your quad bike.
Ensuring that the vehicle is safely stopped and brakes are engaged before leaving the vehicle.
Ensuring that machinery with moving parts has the appropriate guarding fitted and in use.
Don’t be afraid to seek assistance when you need to – neighbouring farmers are always more than willing to offer a lending hand.