Case Study: InstaPower Electrical Engineers' Workplace Safety

This case study, presented as a letter from an Electrical Workers Union representative to the General Manager of InstaPower, highlights critical workplace safety issues. The representative details several incidents involving electrical engineers, including electrical shocks, falls, and equipment failures, emphasizing the hazards associated with high-voltage cable maintenance. The letter stresses the need for improved safety equipment, such as insulating gloves, functional voltage detectors, safety helmets, and harnesses. The engineers are threatening to strike if these concerns are not addressed. The General Manager responds assuring the replacement of all non-functional equipment within the next month, and emphasizes the importance of safety procedures. This case study provides a clear overview of the safety concerns, the union's role, and the company's response.

Running head: WORK PLACE SAFETY
Work Place Safety
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1WORK PLACE SAFETY
Mr. Peter Ropata
The General Manager of InstaPower
27 Te Puni Street, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012 Wellington
Dear Peter
I am a Union Representative of the electrical engineers association of the InstaPower
and I am writing this mail in order to make the work place safer. As a representative
of the electrical engineers’ union, it is my primary duty to provide a safe work place
and to the electrical engineers of the organization, InstaPower and along with this I
must address all the grievances of the workers as soon as possible.
As I am very much concern about the electrical engineers and also for the reputation
of the company, I like to draw your attention on a few incidents that happened in
recent past in the work place of our organization. The electrical engineers are also
very afraid of the situation and among them a few are in very situation as well. In
recent past, we faced a few serious incidents in the work places that has created
serious threats to the engineers. Therefore, some of the incident even may cause
mortality among the workers of the electrical engineer group. As you know, a
significant numbers of workers are involved in the maintenance of the high voltage
cables in various region of New Zealand and this type of work requires high amount
of technical knowledge and simultaneously this task is very hazardous in nature as
well. In last 12 months, we have faced a number of injuries among the electrical

2WORK PLACE SAFETY
engineers during their work and most of the cases the lack of properly functioned
equipment is responsible.
Main accidents:
4 months earlier, there was an incident, in which an electrical engineer was involved
in maintenance process of a high voltage cable. During this process, the worker faced
serious electrical shock as he was not using any kind of insulating gloves due to
inadequate number of gloves. Not only this, it was also reported that the worker was
not using the non-functional voltage detector equipment during the work. A voltage
detectors is capable of detecting the voltages present in the high voltage wires and
thus the worker might has the idea about the risks that is related to the high voltage
wire.
In another incident in the same month, a fall incident of an electrical engineer was
reported during the work in a significant height. During this time, the worker had a
serious fall from the ladder and had a serious head injury. In this context, it was
reported that, the worker did not use the safety helmet during this work. Hence, it can
be said that, if the electrical engineer had a safety helmet, then it might possible that
the worker might not have the head injury at all. In this case, the worker used an old
safety helmet and due to the breaking of this the worker has that injury.
The most recent incident was faced by a senior worker in the last month and it was the
most dangerous incident as well with high potentiality to cause death of that worker.
The worker had a fall from a height. However, as being a senior and sincere employee
the engineer had the safety harness and helmet. Again due to the poor quality of the
harness the worker had that fall. After this, no immediate treatment could not be
provided to the worker as there was no such life –saving kit in the work place.

3WORK PLACE SAFETY
I request you to take required action and to replace the non-functional equipment
with new ones so that the work place can be safer. After those incidents, the workers
became very anxious and they threatened that they will start strike if the concerns are
not resolved.
Regards
Union Representative of Electrical Engineer Staff.

4WORK PLACE SAFETY
FROM: [e-mail]
DATE: 16th August 2019
TO: electrical engineering [e-mail]
SUBJECT: Safety equipment will be replaced next month
Dear electrical engineering staff
I am the General Manager of InstaPower and I understood your concern regarding the
safety issues of the electrical engineering staff of the InstaPower and I had a
discussion with the senior Leadership Team of the organization.
I am very anxious about those incident and I feel that it is very crucial to wear a
safety gloves, a good quality helmet and a well functioned harness and voltage
detector during the work in the high voltage wears as it may protect the worker from
any kind of adverse incidents during the maintenance of high voltage cables.
I assure you to replace all the non-functional equipment within the month of
September. I also feel that it is the duty of the workers and as well as the supervisor
to observe all the maintenance of the safety process during the work. In case of any
problem the staffs can directly contact me at the given email address.
Yours truly
The General Manager of InstaPower
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 27 Te Puni Street,
Petone, Lower Hutt 5012

5WORK PLACE SAFETY
Wellington