https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/breaking-news/alarm-over-nsw-electric-shock-report/news-story/516e85524b2d3d899ef473e285a9650d

Alarm over NSW electric shock incident

Viola Morris says she was alarmed by what happened to her 15-year-old daughter.
An electrical pit may have been live for months before a girl suffered severe shock while walking on a central Sydney street, an investigation has found.

Anna Lambden, 15, was subjected to shock for almost two minutes after taking her shoes off and stepping on the cover of the George Street pit in wet socks in June.

Two people who came to her aid were also shocked before the teenager collapsed beside a Sydney light rail construction site.

A report into the incident on Friday concluded a damaged, uninsulated cable energised the metal frame of the pit cover and it may have been that way since February.

But lead investigator John Guselli said he had difficulty assessing some safety management issues as the contractor responsible for the pit's maintenance had exercised legal privilege until Monday.

Lawyers for Lend Lease Tyco Joint Venture provided responses when the investigation was "essentially concluded", Mr Guselli said.

Viola Morris, the mother of the 15-year-old victim, said she was alarmed about the contractor's behaviour and that pedestrian safety hadn't been sorted out.

"It is not acceptable for governments to allow private corporations to not participate in this inquiry when lives are (at) stake," she said in a statement.

Lawyer Kristian Bolwell said the family was seeking compensation.

"This entire experience is a preventable disgrace," he told reporters on Friday.

The report said actions by the Roads and Maritime Service since the incident had "provided an assurance this situation is highly unlikely to ever re-occur".

It also noted four non-safety defects were uncovered when pits along the light rail corridor were checked after the incident.

Transport for NSW secretary Rodd Staples says all five recommendations in the report will be adopted.

"Safety is our number one priority and these events are totally unacceptable, which is why I commissioned the independent investigation," he said in a statement.

Lend Lease, on behalf of the contractor, said it was difficult to determine the last person to access the pit before Ms Lambden's injury, given the pit was on a public footpath next to the Sydney light rail work zone.

But the spokeswoman said the joint venture company would co-operate with "all authorities" to understand the incident and "carefully review" the report's recommendations.

Originally published as Alarm over NSW electric shock incident