Published: 13 February 2023
Energy Australia Yallourn Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court today after pleading guilty to three charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The company was fined $700,000 for failing to provide and maintain plant that was safe and without risks to health; $300,000 for failing to provide information, instruction and training; and $500,000 for failing to provide or maintain safe systems of work.
Graeme Edwards, 54, died in hospital with severe burns sustained in an arc flash and explosion that occurred while he was racking a 6.6kV circuit breaker in a high voltage switch room that was being returned to service after a planned major outage.
The court heard the incident likely occurred when a control cable being held by Mr Edwards made contact with live components of the circuit breaker due to an inadequately attached infill panel on the switchboard cabinet.
Mr Edwards, who had more than 30 years' experience working at the power station, had been carrying out his duties in the way he had been trained to do so.
Energy Australia Yallourn admitted it was reasonably practicable for it to have ensured any infill panels installed on high voltage switchboards were securely affixed and were not able to move or swing.
The company acknowledged it should have also ensured workers, including Mr Edwards, knew that it was safer to attach the control cable to the circuit breaker before racking, in accordance with its written operating procedures.
Energy Australia Yallourn admitted it should also have provided, and required workers to wear, readily available arc-rated personal protective equipment (PPE), which provides thermal protection and is self-extinguishing.
At the time of the incident, Mr Edwards was wearing flammable cotton overalls, which the court heard can increase the area, depth and severity of burn injuries.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Narelle Beer said the devastating loss of Mr Edwards was compounded by the fact that his death was preventable.
"WorkSafe hopes there is a degree of comfort to Mr Edwards' family, friends and work mates knowing that the many learnings from this tragedy will go a long way to help prevent similar incidents in the future," Dr Beer said.
"Today's outcome is a reminder to duty holders of the potential costs of failing to ensure workers are protected from health and safety risks."