Every product designer hopes their safety equipment never has to prove its worth in a real incident.
But when an unexpected event occurs, the true value of a safety system is revealed.
In April 2026, a transmission line mechanic received an induction shock while repositioning an earth lead during work on a transmission line terminal span. The incident occurred while the worker was transferring an earth lead from one side of a jumper to the other. The worker was subsequently taken to hospital for a precautionary medical assessment, cleared, and returned to work. Ventia initiated an ICAM investigation into the event and reinforced the industry’s focus on managing induction and equipotential risks.
Anyone working on transmission systems understands that electrical hazards do not disappear simply because a circuit has been isolated.
Induced voltages can exist on de-energised conductors, structures, earth leads, and associated equipment. Without proper equipotential control, dangerous voltage differences can develop between a worker, plant, and the electrical system they are working on. As the Ventia safety alert reminds us, failure to adequately manage induction and equipotential risks can result in serious injury.
This is why the industry places such a strong emphasis on equipotential bonding. The objective is straightforward: keep workers, equipment, and structures at the same electrical potential so that hazardous current does not flow through a person.
Equipotential bonding becomes particularly important when work is being performed from Elevated Work Platforms (EWPs) or bucket trucks.
A bonding lead between the bucket and the line helps create an equipotential zone that protects the worker. However, another risk arises if the EWP is unintentionally moved before the bond is disconnected.
Historically, this has resulted in damaged equipment, damaged bonding systems, and potentially dangerous situations.
To address this problem, Betacom Earthing developed the Equipotential Breakaway Bond Set:
Equipotential Breakaway Bond Set
The device is specifically designed for bonding bucket trucks and EWPs to conductors while reducing the consequences of unintentionally moving the platform before disconnecting the bond. The assembly is tested to 12 kA for 1 second, uses 50 mm² copper cable, has an electrical resistance of 125 micro-ohms, and incorporates a controlled breakaway coupling.
A key requirement of any equipotential bonding system is that it must provide reliable electrical continuity during normal work.
However, emergency situations require a different consideration.
The Betacom Equipotential Breakaway Bond incorporates a central coupling that is engineered to separate under a defined load range, allowing emergency recovery actions to occur without the bonding system becoming a secondary hazard. The breakaway coupling is load-tested between 22.5 kg and 35 kg, providing a practical balance between operational security and controlled separation. [betacomearthing.com]
Transpower’s published operational guidance notes that:
“The breakaway bond connected to the personnel bucket of the EWP is the best means of creating an equipotential zone to protect workers.”
Following the induction shock incident, Betacom Earthing was advised anecdotally by industry personnel that the equipotential breakaway bond fitted to the EWP functioned as intended.
We understand that following the event, the ground operator was able to lower the EWP and recover the injured line mechanic. During this process, the breakaway bond reportedly separated as designed, allowing the worker to be brought safely to ground level where first aid could be administered before transport for medical assessment.
While the formal investigation and its findings remain the responsibility of the relevant organisations, the reported sequence of events highlights exactly why breakaway bonding systems were developed in the first place: maintaining worker protection during normal operations while enabling rapid, safe recovery when an emergency occurs.
The Ventia safety alert serves as an important reminder for all utilities, contractors, and line mechanics that:
No single device can eliminate every risk. Effective protection comes from combining procedures, training, earthing systems, bonding systems, and emergency response planning.
Since this event, Betacom Earthing has experienced significant interest in the Equipotential Breakaway Bond from utilities and contractors throughout New Zealand.
While nobody wants to see workers exposed to electrical hazards, it is encouraging to see the industry continually adopting practical innovations that improve both worker protection and emergency response capability.
The best safety equipment is often the equipment that quietly does its job every day. Occasionally, however, an incident reminds us why it was developed in the first place.
For more information about the Betacom Equipotential Breakaway Bond Set, visit:
