NSW Hoist Company Fined $360k After Worker Suffers Severe Electric Shock
18 June 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
A Sydney hoisting equipment provider has been fined $360,000 after a worker sustained serious burns and an electric shock while working on live electrical components, highlighting the critical need for robust WHS management systems and electrical safety controls.
Solution Hoist Hire Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $360,000 in the Industrial Court of New South Wales following a prosecution brought by SafeWork NSW, after a worker suffered serious burns as a result of an electric shock.
The incident occurred on 21 April 2023, when a maintenance fitter employed by the company was converting the power supply of an electric hoist. During the task, the worker’s arm came into contact with an energised busbar, resulting in an electric shock and significant burn injuries.
Solution Hoist Hire Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, for failing to comply with its primary duty of care to workers as required by section 19(1) of the Act. The conviction reflects the court’s view that the company did not adequately manage the well-known risks associated with electrical work.
The judgment in SafeWork NSW v Solution Hoist Hire Pty Ltd is available on the NSW Caselaw website. The company retains the right to appeal against the sentence imposed by the Industrial Court.
This case underscores the importance for all PCBUs to maintain effective WHS management systems, including documented electrical safety procedures, task-specific Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), and clear policies for isolating and de-energising equipment before work commences. Businesses can access industry-aligned WHS management system resources at Bluesafe Online to help meet their obligations.
SafeWork NSW has reminded employers that workers must not be exposed to live electrical parts due to inadequate planning, supervision or controls. Electrical risks are well understood across industry, and comprehensive risk management—supported by suitable SWMS for electrical and maintenance tasks—is a fundamental requirement.
Workers who have concerns about health and safety in their workplace can raise issues anonymously by contacting SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 or via the Speak Up Save Lives online reporting service.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer emphasised the seriousness of electrical hazards, stating that there are well-known risks associated with working with or near electrical equipment and that it is unacceptable for workers to be placed at risk because of inadequate systems. She reiterated that all businesses have a duty to ensure workers are protected when working with or around live electricity.