A Queensland electrical and airconditioning director Jacob Mohr, trading as SOLTEC, has been fined $30,000 over a workplace incident at a worksite in Gatton in July of 2018.
Mr Mohr was engaged to provide repairs on a solar panel system on a shed, and he hired a company to install edge protection for the job.
On the day of the incident, two workers for the edge protection company were installing railing protection, which saw the pass lengths of edging from the ground to the worker on the roof.
One steel rail, in the hands of the worker on the roof, came into contact with a powerline, shocking the worker as the voltage going through the rail exceeded 10,000 volts.
The worker was transported to hospital, where he stayed for six weeks, suffering from burns to his hands and feet.
Aaron Guilfoyle, prosecutor for Workplace Health and Safety explained to the court that the risk from power lines was obvious.
“It is fortunate the consequences of the offending here, whilst certainly serious, were not more severe,” he said.
Mr Mohr was found guilty of failing to comply with section 30 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002, and that failure exposed a person to the risk of death or injury.
He was fined $30,000 and court costs without a conviction being recorded.