CCTV shows crane hitting powerline at modular home site

Quinlan Cranes avoids conviction over powerline strike In short: A Geelong crane company has avoided conviction over an incident that injured four workers. The crane chain hit a powerline and left one man with critical burns. The company was fined $2,700 for the incident. A crane company has been fined $2,700 without a conviction over a powerline strike that left one man critically burned and three others with electric shocks. On Monday Geelong-based Quinal Cranes was fined after pleading guilty to one charge of putting people in danger by damaging or interfering with protected electrical infrastructure. CCTV footage of the September 2025 incident showed the crane's chain striking an overhead powerline as a section of a modular home was being lifted in the Geelong suburb of Norlane. One man can be seen receiving a severe electric shock as he holds the bottom of the chain, before a large arc flash occurs. Four workers received electric shocks, including one who was flown to hospital with critical burns. "This incident left a worker severely burned, but it could easily have ended in tragedy," Energy Safe chief executive Leanne Hughson said. "You don't have to touch a powerline for electricity to seriously injure or kill you. Electricity can arc across a gap, so never assume you have enough clearance — know the safe distance and stay well clear." It is an offence to operate a mobile crane within two metres of a protected 22kV powerline in Victoria, and to cause a risk to any person by damaging or interfering with protected infrastructure. The offences each carry a maximum penalty of $4,070. "Energy Safe will hold companies and workers accountable if they ignore these safety requirements and put lives at risk by working too close to powerlines without the required safety checks or authorisation," Ms Hughson said. Over the past year Energy Safe has recorded 40 powerline contacts involving people, vehicles or machinery, resulting in two deaths.