Employer fined over $120,000 after employee electrocuted…

The District Court has ordered an employer to pay over $120,000 after an employee was electrocuted.

The employee was working with machinery when it broke down. The employee began moving the machinery to another area of the worksite for repairs. As the machinery was being moved, it came close enough to power lines for electricity to jump to it.

One employee who was holding onto the machinery sustained serious burns to a hand and a foot as a result of electricity passing through him.

Worksafe noted that powerlines should have been identified as a safety hazard and addressed in the employer’s safety plan. The fact that they were not identified in this case not only led to one employee being seriously injured, but put several others at risk.

The Court ordered the employer to pay a fine of $100,000 in addition to $21,442 in reparation to the employee.

If the employer had properly assessed the risks of the worksite and implemented an appropriate safety plan, the entire incident could have been avoided.

If there are uncertainties around how to compose and implement an adequate safety plan, it pays to speak with a professional experienced in the area.

Leading law firms committed to helping clients cost-effectively will have a range of fixed-priced Initial Consultations to suit most people’s needs in quickly learning what their options are.  At Rainey Collins we have an experienced team who can answer your questions and put you on the right track.

Alan Knowsley
Health and Safety Lawyer