The operator of EnergyAustralia’s Yallourn Power Station has been convicted and fined a total of $1.5 million following the tragic death of a worker in November 2018.

EnergyAustralia Yallourn Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court on 13 February after pleading guilty to three charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The company was fined $700,000 for failing to provide and maintain a safe plant without risks to health; $300,000 for failing to provide information, instruction and training; and $500,000 for failing to provide or maintain safe systems of work.

Graeme Edwards, 54, died in hospital with severe burns sustained in an arc flash and explosion that occurred while he was racking a 6.6kV circuit breaker in a high-voltage switch room that was being returned to service after a planned major outage.

The court heard the incident likely occurred when a control cable being held by Edwards made contact with live components of the circuit breaker due to an inadequately attached infill panel on the switchboard cabinet.

Edwards, who had more than 30 years’ experience working at the power station, had been carrying out his duties in the way he had been trained to do so.

EnergyAustralia Yallourn admitted it was reasonably practicable for it to have ensured any infill panels installed on high-voltage switchboards were securely affixed and were not able to move or swing.

Additionally, EnergyAustralia Yallourn admitted it should have provided, and required workers to wear, readily available arc-rated personal protective equipment (PPE).