Energy Supply Worker Suffers Fatal Electric Shock in Riverview

    SafeWork NSW has confirmed an energy supply worker suffered a fatal electric shock yesterday in Riverview.  The worker was undertaking routine maintenance work and was part of Ausgrid’s Gore hill depot who was working on the replacement of a low voltage power pole in Riveriew.

    At about 11.45 am yesterday, emergency services was called to Riverview Street Riverview.  An energy supply worker had been working in a cherry picker when he suffered an electric shock going into cardiac arrest.  According to 7News the man was revived by paramedics after receiving the shock and going into cardiac arrest.   After he was resuscitated, paramedics took him to Royal North Shore Hospital.  The man arrived at hospital in a stable but serious condition but tragically passed away yesterday.

    SafeWork NSW issued the following statement to In the Cove

    “SafeWork NSW inspectors are attending following an incident at Riverview Road, Riverview today after a 39-year-old energy supply worker working from a cherry-picker suffered a fatal electric shock. SafeWork NSW will prepare a report for the coroner.”

    A spokesperson for Ausgrid providing the following statement:

    “We are deeply saddened by the death today of a colleague and line worker who received a serious electric shock whilst carrying out work in the Lane Cove area yesterday.

    Our thoughts and prayer are with his family and we have offered them every assistance.

    We are providing support and counselling to his colleagues who were on site with him on the day.

    The safety of our own people and the public is our number one priority and a SafeWork NSW investigation into the incident is already underway.

    The cause of the incident is not yet known.”

    Electrical Trades Union Secretary Justin Page said the union was offering its full support to the worker’s family and friends.   He further said “While the union will be working closely with Ausgrid and safety regulators to better understand the cause of this fatality, it is not appropriate to speculate on the cause of the incident.  Once the causes of the accident is known we will strongly advocate for appropriate improvements to safety standards and be vigilant to ensure Ausgrid and other electricity distributors put in place measures to prevent a repeat of this tragedy.,”

    Residents in Riverview Street Riverview were without power until about 9pm last night.  The road was closed during the day and Sydney buses were redirected.

    This tragic incident occurred a day after a young man (whose parents are well known to many at Riverview College) was killed in a scaffolding collapse at Macquarie Park.


     

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