Logan City Council fined $80,000 over electrocution of Eagleby Aquatic Centre lifeguard

Following Beenleigh Magistrates Court having heard evidence of a dangerous series of safety oversights at the Eagleby Aquatic Centre, which culminated with a lifeguard suffering a non-fatal electric shock while working, Logan City Council has been ordered to pay more than $80,000 in fines and costs.

In Court last Tuesday (16th January), a representative from the Council pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply with category two electrical safety duty/expose an individual to risk of serious injury, illness or death.

The Court heard that on 20th February 2022 a lifeguard at the Eagleby Aquatic Centre was cleaning the pool with a nine metre aluminium pole.

There were 110kw high voltage electrical lines running over the top of the pool which the male lifeguard accidentally struck.

As reported by the Albert & Logan News, he received a major electric shock and was paralysed for five to 10 minutes after being thrust backwards metres into the pool.

The victim was taken to hospital and was treated for electric shock and minor burns to his foot and leg.

In Court, it was advised that the Council did not implement a number of safety tools including a risk assessment although, in April 2022, after the injury, the Council conducted a major internal investigation.

A health and safety prosecutor said the defendant was negligent in multiple areas, advising “they’ve failed on several grounds, it was just lucky an incident hadn’t already occurred.

“Multiple workers were exposed to the risk and being a Government body they should be held to a higher standard.”

Magistrate Eoin Mac Giolla Ri said the injury must have been traumatising for the victim, stating “this would have undoubtedly caused substantial terror.

“In my sentencing I consider there is a need for general deterrence but I acknowledge the defendant had no history of safety breaches.”

Logan City Council were fined $80,000 and ordered to pay $1601 in court costs.

Compensation of $5,000 was also issued to the victim and no conviction was recorded.

Operated at the time of the incident by Logan City Council, the Eagleby Aquatic Centre was closed in July 2022 with a plan for it to be decommissioned.

However, the Council reversed its decision and, following a series of improvements, the beach entry pool at the facility reopened in December – although the lap pool has been demolished.

Image: Eagleby Aquatic Centre prior to its closure in 2022. Credit: City of Logan.