Even traumatic injury has limits when dishonesty enters the picture
An electricity worker suffered serious burns in an arc flash explosion while working overtime. Eighteen days later, his employer fired him for the safety breach that caused his injuries.
The Fair Work Commission ruled on January 20, 2026 that the termination was not unfair. The decision draws a hard line on where accountability trumps sympathy, even when the facts tug at compassion.
Michael Tapp had worked for Ausgrid, a New South Wales electricity distributor, for many years as an Operating Depot Supervisor without incident. On July 10, 2025, he was repairing a fault at a substation kiosk in Hurstville when an electrical arc flash erupted at 6:46pm. The explosion threw him backwards. He suffered serious burns to his face, arms, and legs.
The problem was plain: Tapp was not wearing the required face shield when performing live low voltage testing work. Video footage confirmed it. He wore a hard hat without the shield attached, despite the requirement being in place since February 2025. Tapp admitted in cross-examination he knew the rule.
Ausgrid launched an investigation. What began as one safety breach grew into three.
The company discovered Tapp had not completed a required Hazard Assessment Conversation before starting work that evening. These assessments help workers identify the correct protective equipment for each job. Tapp acknowledged they were important. He just hadn't done one.
Then came the...
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