Finding into death of Jarrod Joseph Debono
Deceased
JARROD JOSEPH DEBONO
Demographics
21y, male
Date of death
2015-09-13
Finding date
2016-09-01
Cause of death
Electrocution
AI-generated summary
A 21-year-old apprentice electrician died from electrocution while troubleshooting LED lighting installation work in a residential roof cavity. He was attempting to repair lights by stripping a broken neutral conductor without disconnecting the electricity supply. He made contact with live wires (241 volts AC) while also touching earthed metal components (water pipe and fan frame), completing a circuit. The home lacked Residual Current Devices (safety switches) which would have interrupted the current within 0.03 seconds. The coroner found the death preventable, noting that adherence to safe work practices (disconnecting power) and the presence of RCDs would likely have prevented this outcome. Key clinical lesson: equipment-related electrocution deaths are preventable through proper safety protocols and device installation.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- Electricity supply not disconnected from circuits being worked on
- Absence of Residual Current Devices (RCDs/safety switches)
- Contact with live conductor (241 volts AC) while in contact with earthed metal components
- Extended period working in warm roof cavity environment
- Frustration and possible distraction from safe work practices
- Broken neutral conductor in light fitting circuit
Coroner's recommendations
- Conduct a feasibility assessment on implementing the Western Australian model in Victoria, whereby all homes that are sold and all rental properties would be fitted with a Residual Current Device
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