Finding into death of Brian Glenn Milnes

Contributing factors

• Failure to maintain 2,000 mm statutory minimum distance from 22,000 volt overhead power lines
• Failure to observe or heed overhead power lines despite awareness of their presence
• Failure to provide a qualified spotter at the immediate work location
• Absence of warning signage in vehicle cabin regarding power line hazards
• Failure to comply with 'No Go Zone' requirements
• Complacency from repeated exposure and prior uneventful exposures at the same location
• Use of southern shed entrance with power lines when safer northern entrance was available
• Insufficient risk assessment of the immediate workplace environment
• Inadequate hazard elimination through work procedure alternatives

Coroner's recommendations

1. WorkSafe and Energy Safe Victoria invest in evaluation of proximity warning devices to determine their efficacy, applicability and practicability to tipper trucks
2. WorkSafe and Energy Safe Victoria invest in evaluation of methods to electrically insulate tipper trailers by affixing dry non-conductive material, as per NIOSH recommendations and informed by AS1418.10 technical specifications for electrical insulation of elevated work platforms
3. Provision of stickers displaying maximum elevated height of trailers on vehicle cabin or near controls
4. Distribution of 'Look Up and Live' and 'No Go Zone' stickers to owners of all registered tipper trucks capable of elevating higher than minimum power line height requirements
5. Periodic evaluation of 'Look Up and Live' campaign effectiveness to monitor long-term behaviour change
6. Continuation and expansion of WorkSafe and ESV educational programs and forums to rural Victorians
7. Employers conduct basic risk assessments of immediate workplace environment
8. Implementation of workplace safety responsibility culture involving all participants