Adelaide Electrical Company Fined $300,000 Following Worker’s Fatal Incident

Incident Overview

In June 2022, a worker employed by JD Finlay Electrical, an Adelaide-based electrical contractor, died from positional asphyxiation after becoming trapped in a confined electrical pit while pulling cables through conduit pipes. The South Australian Employment Tribunal subsequently fined the company $300,000 for breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

The tribunal found that the absence of a trained supervisor, lack of prior risk assessment, and failure to identify foreseeable hazards directly contributed to the worker’s death. WorkSafe SA was notified and conducted a full investigation.

• Fatalities:
  • In June 2022, a worker employed by JD Finlay Electrical, an Adelaide-based electrical contractor, died from positional asphyxiation after becoming trapped in a confined electrical pit while pulling cables through conduit pipes
• Injuries:
  • None reported.

• In June 2022, a worker employed by JD Finlay Electrical, an Adelaide-based electrical contractor, died from positional asphyxiation after becoming trapped in a confined electrical pit while pulling cables through conduit pipes

The tribunal found that the absence of a trained supervisor, lack of prior risk assessment, and failure to identify foreseeable hazards directly contributed to the worker’s death. WorkSafe SA was notified and conducted a full investigation.

WorkSafe SA conducted a full investigation into the incident. The South Australian Employment Tribunal heard evidence regarding the company’s safety practices and found that the risks associated with the task—including the potential for the worker to slip headfirst into the pit—were foreseeable and should have been mitigated by JD Finlay Electrical through proper risk assessment and supervision.

WorkSafe SA encourages any workers, contractors or persons with relevant information about confined-space work practices or safety concerns at JD Finlay Electrical to contact the regulator on 1300 365 255 or via the online incident-report form at worksa.sa.gov.au.