Prosecution Details

Being the main contractor at a construction site failed to ensure that electricity had been supplied to the site from a supply authority's service line or service cable by way of a temporary or permanent connection by the time when work on the site had reached plate height.

The defendant was constructing a single storey home in Port Kennedy. On 12 October 2000 a WorkSafe Inspector visited the site and observed that the building had reached plate height, but no power had been connected to the site. There was no power board nor was there a meter in the meter box. The roof carpenters had completed pitching the roof.

It was practicable for the defendant to have arranged for power to be supplied to the site. There was a consumer connection pillar at the front of the site and there was power connected to the house next door, which was under construction.

The aim of the regulation is to remove hazards. When construction work reaches plate height, power tools are used to fit roof timbers, guttering etc. In the absence of power on site, portable generators and long extension cords have to be used.

The mention was heard by Mr Imlah SM. The defendant pleaded guilty.