Fear 'switch thrown' while sparky worked - 07/06/06 11:15 PM
By GREG McLEAN
07jul06
A RESPECTED Territory tradesman electrocuted at a remote community may have died after someone flicked a circuit breaker.
Electrician Darryll Davis, 38, died while fixing a solar hot water system on the roof of a home at Ngukurr, about 580km southeast of Darwin, on Friday afternoon.
An industry source with close links to the community told the Northern Territory News that some local residents and tradesmen were questioning whether someone may have caused the electrocution by flicking a circuit breaker on the power board as Mr Davis worked above.
Community residents were stunned and saddened by the sudden death of Mr Davis, who had worked at the community for several years, and lined the streets when the contractor's body was flown back to Darwin last Saturday.
NT Police said inquiries were ongoing but the death was not being treated as suspicious at this stage. The Electrical Safety Board and NT WorkSafe are also investigating the fatality.
Electrical Trades Union NT organiser Alan Paton did not want to be drawn on speculation about what caused the electrocution but called on the NT Government to finally do something about electrical safety.
Mr Davis' death was the seventh electrocution in the Territory in the past 27 months, with six of those occurring at work.
"The NT Government has done nothing to prevent unnecessary electrocutions," Mr Paton said.
"There is still no legislation in place that requires schools, businesses, worksites or public housing to have residual current devices, which prevent electrocutions, installed.
"The Territory is also the only jurisdiction where electricians can work on live circuit boards."
Opposition spokesman Terry Mills said it was time to reassess whether the industry should be regulated again by inspectors.
Planning and Lands Minister Chris Burns said the Government was considering a range of options.
http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,19711336%255E13569,00.html
07jul06
A RESPECTED Territory tradesman electrocuted at a remote community may have died after someone flicked a circuit breaker.
Electrician Darryll Davis, 38, died while fixing a solar hot water system on the roof of a home at Ngukurr, about 580km southeast of Darwin, on Friday afternoon.
An industry source with close links to the community told the Northern Territory News that some local residents and tradesmen were questioning whether someone may have caused the electrocution by flicking a circuit breaker on the power board as Mr Davis worked above.
Community residents were stunned and saddened by the sudden death of Mr Davis, who had worked at the community for several years, and lined the streets when the contractor's body was flown back to Darwin last Saturday.
NT Police said inquiries were ongoing but the death was not being treated as suspicious at this stage. The Electrical Safety Board and NT WorkSafe are also investigating the fatality.
Electrical Trades Union NT organiser Alan Paton did not want to be drawn on speculation about what caused the electrocution but called on the NT Government to finally do something about electrical safety.
Mr Davis' death was the seventh electrocution in the Territory in the past 27 months, with six of those occurring at work.
"The NT Government has done nothing to prevent unnecessary electrocutions," Mr Paton said.
"There is still no legislation in place that requires schools, businesses, worksites or public housing to have residual current devices, which prevent electrocutions, installed.
"The Territory is also the only jurisdiction where electricians can work on live circuit boards."
Opposition spokesman Terry Mills said it was time to reassess whether the industry should be regulated again by inspectors.
Planning and Lands Minister Chris Burns said the Government was considering a range of options.
http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,19711336%255E13569,00.html