Warning after Irishman electrocuted in ‘freak accident’ on New Zealand farm

• An Irish farm worker, Sean Clear, died after being electrocuted on a North Island farm.
• Coogan Contracting was fined $25,000 for failing to identify overhead power lines as a hazard.
• WorkSafe is urging tighter safety measures around powerlines following two serious incidents this year.

An Irish farm worker just days away from his 25th birthday died after he was electrocuted while working on a North Island farm.

Sean Clear, originally from Ballacolla, County Laois, was a mechanic by trade and had been working on machinery when he died, Irish media reported at the time.

Coogan Contracting, the company Clear had been working for, was sentenced at Taumarunui District Court on December 18, 2024.

It was ordered to pay $100,000 in reparations and fined $25,000 after admitting charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

According to a WorkSafe statement released today, Clear’s mower became bogged down while he was working on a farm near Whakapapa Village in February 2023.

A digger brought in to extract it contacted an overhead line carrying electricity at 33,000 volts.

“As Mr Clear was steadying the mower for extraction, the electricity passed through the digger’s arm and into the 25-year-old Irish national, causing his death,” said the statement.

WorkSafe’s investigation found the employer, Coogan Contracting, failed to carry out a risk assessment to identify the overhead power lines as a hazard. It also found it failed to have a spotter in place to ensure the lines were not contacted.

Clough-Ballacolla Gaelic Athletic Association chairman Gordon Pearson told Irish media at the time the community was “heartbroken” by the young man’s death.

“He was such a nice chap. He had a word for everybody,” said Pearson. “They are a lovely family. It is terrible. It was a freak accident.”

Irishman Sean Clear died after being electrocuted on a North Island farm in February 2023. Photo / Supplied

Just three months later, in May 2023, Emmett Holmes-O’Connor received major burns to his hand and foot, with fractures to his spine and ribs, while working on scaffolding in Waiheke.

Aluminium cladding he was carrying touched the high-voltage 11kV line, inflicting an electric shock that caused him to fall backwards nearly 4m off the scaffold, according to WorkSafe.

After an investigation, WorkSafe charged the employer Joan Carpenters Limited (JCL), and the scaffolding company Church Bay Services Limited (CBSL), for their health and safety failures.

They were sentenced at Auckland District Court on December 12, 2024. JCL was fined $16,500 and CBSL was fined $13,500. Reparations of $42,818 were split between JCL and CBSL.

In light of these events, WorkSafe is calling for tighter safety measures around powerlines.

“Both cases are a horrific reminder of just how dangerous it can be when businesses do not take enough care with working around power lines. Businesses must manage their risks and where they don’t, we will take action,” said WorkSafe’s area investigation manager Danielle Henry.

“Anyone working in or around electricity, especially high voltage lines, needs to be aware of the specific mandated requirements for working near powerlines. The local lines company may require a close approach consent application, to ensure the work is conducted safely. Do not start work before you check for consent.”