In February 2021, J.L. Hutt Electrical was hired to rewire a residential property in Croydon. During the project, an apprentice was assigned work on a junction box located beneath the house.
The apprentice asked the other employees if the power had been turned off. One of the other employees responded with 'yes,' and the apprentice interpreted this response as an indication that all the power to the area he was working on had been deactivated.
Left alone to complete the task, the apprentice proceeded to attach the final cable to a mini junction box. While adjusting the existing cable, his left hand got 'stuck' on an exposed live terminal block.
Calling out for help, another employee turned off the power, allowing the apprentice to free his hand from the live terminal block and escape from under the house.
He was taken to hospital, where he was treated for electric shock. His heart rate was monitored, and third-degree burns were attended to. Following the incident, he underwent three surgeries and has been unable to resume work as an apprentice electrician.
J.L. Hutt Electrical failed to notify WorkSafe about the incident. The situation only came to light when the apprentice's mother contacted Energy Safe Victoria in April 2021, around two months after the incident occurred.
As a result of its failure to ensure a safe work process, safely supervise the apprentice, and report the incident, J.L. Hutt was found guilty, fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $4,599 in costs.