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Following sentencing and penalties handed down in the County Court of Victoria, EnergyAustralia today expressed its deep regret at the events at its Yallourn Power Station in November 2018 which led to the tragic death of Graeme Edwards.
Newly appointed EnergyAustralia Operations and Projects Executive Michael Hutchinson, who attended Court along with several senior EnergyAustralia executives, said: “EnergyAustralia offers its deepest sympathies to Graeme’s family, friends and workmates and we acknowledge the impact that Graeme’s death has had.
“Since the events of November 2018, we have put in place a series of additional safety procedures and improvements at the station to ensure there can be no repeat of this tragic incident,” Mr Hutchinson said.
Mr Graeme Edwards, a Unit Controller at Yallourn power station for over 30 years, sustained injuries resulting in the loss of his life, after installing a high-voltage circuit breaker, as he had been trained to do, and an arc flash occurred.
Mr Hutchinson added: “EnergyAustralia has also shared safety improvements with other power station operators to ensure we all learn the lessons of this tragic incident.”
In December 2022, EnergyAustralia pled guilty to three contraventions of s 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and at today’s sentencing was ordered to pay a total of $1.5 million in penalties.
For media information, contact:
Jacinta Smith – Jacinta.Smith@energyaustralia.com.au / Tel: 0430-755 537