Electrical safety again called into question after Perth tragedy

As we collectively mourn the loss of two of our own after the Galleria Shopping Centre explosion in the West Australian capital of Perth, questions are being raised around how such a tragedy could occur, and how we can all make sure it never happens again.

On 2 February, four electrical workers went off to work as usual, unaware that by midafternoon two would be dead and two others would be in critical condition with injuries that will take years to heal. As the men ran out of the building on fire, mothers with children playing in the neighbouring park and passers-by became emergency workers - forced to get a fire hydrant open in order to pour water onto the victims. These witnesses will also be affected for years to come as they deal with the emotional after-effects of being caught in the midst of such a distressing situation.

It’s believed the men - employees and subcontractors of an electrical firm based in Wangara that specialises in high-voltage electrical work - had been working in an area of the shopping centre near an electrical transformer when it exploded.

It’s a scene every single member of the trade fears, and the tragic deaths of 22-year-old Matt Hutchins and 30-year-old Alan Cummins, and the shocking injuries inflicted on the 50-year-old and 48-year-old survivors, have raised more questions than there are answers. The men’s employers, High Energy Service, are naturally devastated and doing everything in their power to work with the relevant authorities to try to find out how this tragic event unfolded.

The nation’s electrical industry is subject to some of the most stringent safety requirements in the developed world - so while the investigation ramps up, we should all be taking some time out to question our own business operations. Are we all doing every single thing we can to make sure we are 100% compliant? What safety mechanisms do we have in place to make sure our staff go home to their families every night? And what arrangements do we have to be assured we’ve ticked every box if something outside of our control was to happen?

As we watch these young men’s families try to pick up the pieces and the families of those injured facing years of helping with their recovery, we would like to see every business undertake a full safety audit, followed by the implementation of a safety management plan. Each state has its own system - for example, WorkCover Queensland offers a list of accredited auditors, South Australians have the Office of the Technical Regulator and Victorians have access to Energy Safe Victoria.

MEA also has a specially designed and sophisticated health, safety, environment/energy and quality (HSEQ) management system that’s an affordable option to run as an add-on, fee-for-service alongside MEA membership. It’s an integrated safety management system that we designed for the electrical industry to ensure the protection of both staff and customers through a series of checks and balances. We want to make sure that every employer, contractor or sole operator in this country is carrying out their duties under the current national workplace health and safety requirements.

Once implemented, the program dramatically reduces the risk of accidents and ensures the safety of workers. It also increases business productivity, customer satisfaction and product and service quality, and reduces errors and costs; but at this point in time, the most important thing any of us can do is move swiftly to make sure our safety systems are up to scratch so that every person who heads off to work in the morning returns home safe and sound.

Master Electricians Australia

www.masterelectricians.com.au