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Minister launches campaign
to deter DIY electrical work
By Michelle Robertson, Senior Media
and Communications Adviser
ESV has launched a new campaign called
DIY=DIE to deter people from doing their
own electrical work.
Victoria’s Minister for Energy, the Hon.
Lily D’Ambrosio, launched the campaign in
Shepparton following the electrocution deaths
of two farmers in recent months.
The first phase of the campaign specifically
targets farmers and farm workers. Thirty per cent
of Victoria’s workplace incidents occur on farms.
In November a 75-year-old man was
electrocuted at Moorabool while attempting to
repair a pump on a rural property, then in January
a 21-year-old dairy farmer from Yarroweyah died
while attending to a pump in a drainage pit.
Minister D’Ambrosio said doing unqualified
electrical work was illegal and could be fatal.
“There is no situation where it was safe or
acceptable to perform electrical work if you aren’t
a qualified and licensed electrician,” she said. “You
may think you can save time and money, but you
don’t want to pay with your life.
“I can’t emphasise enough that people in rural
areas should always call in qualified electricians to
perform any type of electrical installation work.”
ESV’s Executive Manager Electrical
Installations, Licensing and Equipment Safety, Neil
Fraser, said farmers and rural workers needed
to be very careful about how they maintained
electrical installations and equipment.
“We know that farmers are adept at a range
of skills but electrical work is not something
unlicensed people should ever attempt,” he said.
The campaign will run in newspapers, radio,
online and on billboards.
Don’t die trying to be an electrician: ESV’s Neil Fraser, Victorian Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio
and Suzanna Sheed MP, Member for Shepparton District, launching the new campaign in May.
Safety tips for farmers
»» Electrical work must be performed by licensed
electrical tradespeople
»» A slight tingle or fuses blowing regularly are
signs of a serious electrical problem and need
to be investigated by a qualified tradesperson
»» Never try fixing electrical equipment or get
around the problem by adding extra fuse wire
or bypassing circuit breakers
»» Water and electricity can be fatal—always turn
off electricity before clearing or checking a
pump or float switch or entering the water.
ESV sponsors
Arborcamp 2016
By Michelle Robertson, Senior Media
and Communications Adviser
ESV was one of the sponsors of Arborcamp
2016, taking the opportunity to promote its
“Don’t put your life on the line” campaign to
Victorian tree industry workers.
Arborcamp is an annual industry event
organised by the Victorian Tree Industry
Organisation. This year’s event was held in
Mount Martha from 13 – 15 May and included
presentations on advanced rigging, conservation
arboriculture, social media and wellbeing.
ESV staff gave a presentation about safe work
practices near powerlines and distributed free
rope bags to more than 100 people.
Click here to download ESV’s new brochure
for tree industry workers.
Don’t put your life on the line: ESV’s Gary Wright and Barry Heywood speak to tree industry workers
about safe work practices near powerlines.