Spate of electrical safety incidents in NSW prompts urgent call to action

Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has today urged the NSW Government to take immediate action toward legislating the mandatory fitting of safety switches in all NSW homes following a recent spate of severe electrical safety incidents.

MEA NSW state manager Jody McGann said three separate incidents late last year where NSW electricians suffered electric shocks resulting in serious injuries, burns or death, were just a few of many electrical safety incidents that have occurred in the state over the past year.

“This is an issue of critical importance to the electrical safety of the Australian public and warrants immediate action,” McGann said.

“The lives of two young electrical workers have been lost in as many months within Australia as a result of electrocution in ceiling spaces. This follows the 2009 deaths of three tradespeople who were installing foil insulation under the federal government’s home insulation program, not to mention numerous other close calls for electricians who have narrowly avoided losing their lives to a lapse in electrical safety.

“This danger also exists for home owners and other tradespeople working in the ceiling space of a home, where our research shows as many as one in five homes has a pre-existing wiring fault.

“Taken together, these statistics point to an urgent need for comprehensive action to prevent further lives being lost.

“We urge the NSW Government to take immediate action and legislate for the mandatory fitting of safety switches in all safety-switch-capable sub-circuits in all NSW homes.”  

McGann said an MEA research report found that, although around 60% of Australian homes have at least one safety switch, this does not represent total protection for the home’s occupants or tradespeople who may need to access the roof space. 

“The report also found that 80% of Australians agreed safety switches should be compulsory on all circuits,” she said.

“This prompts the question as to why, with the overwhelming evidence on the effectiveness of these life-saving devices, government has not legislated to make the fitting of safety switches on all capable circuits compulsory in all Australian homes.

“There is absolutely no excuse for complacency regarding electrical-related injuries and fatalities when the solution is known.  We urge the NSW Government to take action quickly before more lives are lost.”