The Electrical Trades Union is calling for the bosses of Essential Energy to be held personally accountable for the death of a worker at Buladehlah 3 years ago.
47-year-old Trevor Tooze was one of six workers replacing several kilometres of power lines on Monday September 2, 2013.
He was working on a raised platform when he was electrocuted after taking hold of a copper cable being lowered to the ground which came into contact with a live overhead 11,000 volt power line.
His colleagues performed CPR but, despite their best efforts, Mr Tooze was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance paramedics.
The top conductors of the power line had been left energised to maintain uninterrupted power supply to customers while workers removed the bottom conductors.
A SafeWork NSW investigation found if Essential Energy had ensured the top conductors were deenergised and the power was turned off at the feeder, Mr Tooze's death could've been prevented.
The company has been convicted and fined $300,000.
Since the incident, Essential Energy has issued a safety alert prohibiting the practice which led to the death. It has also formed a Safety Review Working Group and installed 178 defibrillators at worksites.
However, Union Assistant Secretary, Dave McKinley believes heads should roll over the incident.
"We believe the senior executives who were responsible for this policy, who knowingly placed workers in danger for the sake of maintaining electricity services, must be held personally responsible," he said.
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| ETU Assistant Secretary Dave McKinley |
