Electrician sues foir brain and spinal damage
The Courier Mail
Kay Dibben
May 28,2016
AN ELECTRICIAN claims he received a shock from a radio station’s mixing desk known as the “desk of death’’, was thrown against a wall and left with brain and spinal injuries.
Andrew McKinnon, 31, has gone to the District Court asking Gold Coast radio station 94.1FM for $710,700 in damages for injuries and loss.
His District Court claim alleges Gold Coast Community Radio Association Inc obtained a 1989 mixing desk from the ABC in 2006 and made modifications for its use at 94.1FM. He claimed the radio station knew the desk had not been serviced since 2001.
On numerous occasions between 2006 and 2013, radio station employees operating the mixing desk allegedly received shocks. It was so common that the mixing desk became known among staff as the “Desk of Death’’, the claim said .
Mr McKinnon said he volunteered to work at the station and as a paid independent contractor in 2012 and 2013.
His claim alleges on about 40 occasions he raised concerns, verbally and by email, with station manager Gary Fields about the state of the station equipment, including the mixing desk.
While working as a contractor on May 1, a day after the mixing desk was inspected by electrical engineers, Mr McKinnon claimed he heard a low hum coming from it.
He claimed he also noticed significant fluctuations in current drawn by the mixing desk and people operating it received electric shocks.
His claim said at 11am he suggested to Mr Fields that it should be disconnected. At noon, Mr Fields told him he had disconnected the desk.
Mr McKinnon claimed that, as he was attempting to de-solder wires connecting a microphone to the mixing desk, he received an electric shock strong enough to throw him back into a wall.
Mr McKinnon is claiming he suffered significant injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries and psychiatric or psychological injuries.
The radio station is yet to respond to the claim, filed by Shine Lawyers on April 21.