Vic: Safety check would have saved electrician: widow
By Nick Lenaghan
MELBOURNE, Aug 5 AAP - An $80 safety check could have saved the life of a Melbournecarpenter who was electrocuted on the job, his widow said outside court today.
Earlier, a Victorian County Court jury found energy supply firm AGL guilty of worksafety breaches over the death of Paul Psaila four years ago.
Mr Psaila received a fatal shock on the roof of a Rosanna unit when he touched gutteringcarrying a 240 volt current coming from a live electricity supply cable attached to thehome.
The court was told protective insulation around the cable was accidentally puncturedduring its installation by AGL linesmen and their work had not been independently inspected.
Outside court, Mr Psaila's widow Marie said her husband's life could have been savedif AGL had a system of inspection in place that checked the linesmen's work.
"They failed to do that and also it would have been a simple drive-by inspection atperhaps the cost of $80," Mrs Psaila said.
"Because they didn't do that inspection my husband's been killed, the children areleft without a father and we've been put through four years of hell."
Mrs Psaila said her four-year-old daughter was the only person to witness the accidentand she hoped today's verdict sent "a very strong message" to companies to ensure theyhad systems of checking work in place.
Lawyers for AGL will present a plea of mitigation before Judge Michael Strong on Thursday.
AAP nl/szp/dk/ldj/jlw
KEYWORD: AGL LEAD
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