Just 55% of electricians follow safe isolation procedure, CPA cuts industry growth forecast to 0.4% in 2027, and a tradesman fights off a swordsman with a spirit level
Just 55% of electricians always follow safe isolation procedures — that’s according to research from Martindale Electric.
Despite the low rate of compliance, 86% of electricians said they were very familiar with the process.
Client pressure, operational constraints, overconfidence and complacency were all listed as reasons for not following basic procedures.
A spokesperson for the tool maker warned that the gap between knowing procedure and following it “is where accidents happen”.
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The Construction Products Association has cut its industry growth forecast for next year to just 0.4%.
The sector is expected to contract by 4% in 2026, with private housebuilding and repair, maintenance, and improvement (RIM) work hit hardest.
Neither housebuilding nor repair and improvement work are expected to return to growth until 2028.
Rebecca Larkin of the CPA said high borrowing costs and low confidence among private investors have pushed industry recovery back into the second half of 2027.
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Police released video footage this week of a builder who drove off a samurai swordsman using a spirit level.
Aaron Messenbird was caught on camera swinging the sword and threatening members of the public.
The builder and another member of the public forced Messenbird to flee.
Police picked him up and charged him the following day.
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