Death at work not acceptable, says WorkSafe Director - 11.1.16

WorkSafe Victoria Executive Director of Health and Safety Marnie Williams expressed her disappointment over the recent deaths of two workers in Victoria last week and once again reminded all workers and businesses the importance of making safety a priority.

“This is a truly devastating start to 2016 and the thoughts of all WorkSafe staff are with the families of these two young men during this difficult time,” said Ms Williams.

Both men, a 24-year-old electrician and a 21-year-old dairy farmer were both electrocuted – the third and fourth workers to have been electrocuted in Victoria for the past nine weeks.

“Electrocution is one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities but there are simple steps that can be taken to ensure this type of tragedy does not happen again,” said Ms Williams.

“Ensure that the power is disconnected or the power supply is isolated before starting work. Make sure that you always test that the power is in fact disconnected before doing repair or maintenance work. Do not rely on safety switches to protect you.

“Regular maintenance of electrical equipment is also a vital part of workplace safety.

“Death at work is not acceptable. Everyone has a part to play in making the workplace safe, and every single worker has the right to return home safe at the end of the day.

“No family should go through the suffering that two Victorian families are now going through today. So make workplace safety a priority.”

(Source OHS News)