Air-conditioning company fined $150,000 after worker electrocuted
04 Apr 2024•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe QLD
An air-conditioning installation company has been fined $150,000 in Cleveland Magistrates Court for breaching an electrical safety duty after a worker was fatally electrocuted at a Capalaba veterinary clinic.
The company was found guilty of failing to comply with an electrical safety duty, exposing people to a risk of death or serious injury. It had been engaged to replace an air-conditioning unit at the clinic.
The worker died while installing an air-conditioner in September 2020. He had worked for the company for 15 years, and his electrical licence had expired.
The installation work included relocating isolators on the air-conditioners.
At sentencing, the magistrate highlighted the company’s failure to manage electrical risks and the profound effect of the worker’s death on his family.
The court also acknowledged measures the company took after the incident to improve its safety procedures. These included engaging an external consultant to conduct a comprehensive safety review.
In addition to the $150,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay $1,500 in costs and a $101.40 filing fee. No conviction was recorded.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your business’s approach to safety duties and identify areas that may need closer attention. Take the free WHS self-check