Jayden's death could change law

Tamra and Greg Zappelli and daughter Danielle, 17, look at a board of photos of Jayden Zappelli, who was killed in an industrial accident in Bunbury.Picture by David Bailey

The death of a Bunbury trades assistant has forced the State Government to propose a major shake-up of the electrical industry.

EnergySafety, the State Government department tasked with ensuring safe practices in the sector, has proposed to ban work on live circuits which would force electricians to either isolate circuits or turn off the power before starting work on almost all projects.

The proposal follows the death of 18-year-old Jayden Zappelli, who died while working in the roof of an East Bunbury home in 2013.

He died after his supervising electrician did not make sure the power was isolated before work began.

EnergySafety announced it would look at the change following the _South Western Times _publishing the Zappelli family's impassioned plea on February 12.

Jayden's father, Greg, who has been campaigning for changes to the law to prevent another death, said it was a positive step.

"But we still have a way to go," he said.

Jayden's uncle and former electrician Mark Zappelli said the immediate focus of any law change should be on the residential sector rather than the complex industrial sector.

The family is pushing for the mandatory installation of RCDs - an electrical safety device - in all homes.

Follow this link:
Jayden's death could change law