Civil 1 fined $238,000 after worker suffers electric shock
13 Nov 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
Civil 1 Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $238,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW after a worker suffered an electric shock at a North Wollongong construction site.
The prosecution by SafeWork NSW followed an incident on 5 December 2022 involving a worker employed by Civil 1 Pty Ltd.
The worker was guiding a 16-metre-long steel reinforcement cage into a hole when it buckled and fell onto two 11,000-volt overhead power lines, causing him to suffer an electric shock.
Civil 1 Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to meet its duty to workers under section 19(1). The company has the right to appeal its sentence.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said: “There are well-known risks when working with or around electricity.” She added: “It is unacceptable for workers to be exposed to electrical risks due to inadequate systems.”
“SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working with live electricity.”
The full judgment is available on the NSW Caselaw website. Information on safe working practices around electricity is also available to businesses and workers.
Workers can raise workplace health and safety concerns anonymously with SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free SWMS tool can help businesses prepare a safe work method statement for high risk construction work, including work near overhead power lines. Create a free SWMS