South Australians advised to prioritise safety when working near powerlines

SafeWork SA, in collaboration with the state's electricity distributor, is urging the community to exercise caution about the serious hazards posed by working in proximity to overhead and underground powerlines.

SafeWork SA indicates that it has documented a total of 59 notifications of dangerous work-related incidents associated with overhead or underground powerlines in the previous three years.

During the second week of National Safe Work Month, SA Power Networks (SAPN) and SafeWork SA are emphasising the measures and safety precautions that individuals—especially home builders, civil construction workers, and farmers —should follow when operating near powerlines.

According to Glenn Farrell, Executive Director of SafeWork SA, employers are putting their workers' lives at risk unless they adequately address the hazards of working in proximity to powerlines.

“The most effective way to eliminate the risk of electric shock is to turn off the power, which may involve contacting SA Power Networks before starting the work,” Mr Farrell said.

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