Shocked linesman missed safety briefing

An investigation in to the incident found that Mr Nelley had breached safety procedures and he was dismissed from work. File photo / Thinkstock

A linesman who was shocked by a live wire after missing a safety briefing was fairly dismissed from his job, the Employment Relations Authority has found.

Cameron Nelley was carrying out work in Opononi, Far North, when he suffered the shock from the 11kV line, which threw him from his ladder, and into bush six metres below.

He brought a claim to the Authority that he was unfairly dismissed after being fired from work following the incident.

Mr Nelley was late for work on April 1 last year and missed the safety meeting for the day.

He knew the line would be shutdown in the afternoon so work could be done, however when he arrived at the site that needed to be repaired he did not know the line was still live.

Mr Nelley saw another employee working in the same area, saw a set of earths on the line and made the assumption that the line was no longer live.

Mr Nelley set his ladder up, and climbed to his work position. As he attached his safety harness he touched the line.

The shock from the 11kV line threw him from his ladder and he fell six metres and suffered burns to his hands.

He was flown to hospital from treatment and was required to stay for two nights.

His employer Top Energy Ltd launched an investigation in to the incident and found that Mr Nelley had breached safety procedures and he was dismissed from work.

The Employment Relations Authority found there were grounds to dismiss Mr Nelley because he had breached safety procedures and Top Energy had acted in the manner of a fair and reasonable employer in the lead up to his dismissal.