A preliminary report from WorkSafe Queensland suggests a powerline on a pineapple farm had significantly dropped from its original height when a man died after a harvester came into close contact with it in July.
Cody Smith, aged 25, was killed in the incident that also left several people hospitalised.
In its incident alert released on Friday, WorkSafe said the harvester "came close enough to an overhead powerline to cause an electric fault current path".
It also said its initial investigations found the powerline had dropped approximately 3.6 metres from its original height "because the stay wire on one of the poles had broken, potentially due to corrosion".
Investigations continuing
WorkSafe emphasised the findings were not yet confirmed, and investigations were continuing into the exact cause of the incident.
"It appears the workers were in the field working around a tractor that was pulling the harvester and conveyor when the top of the harvester came too close to the powerline," it said.
"The worker who died was standing on the ground next to the conveyor at the time."
The alert went on to warn of the risks associated when working near overhead powerlines, including the possibility of arcing, explosion, or fire causing burns.
"You don't need to come in direct contact with them [overhead powerlines] to receive an electric shock. Electricity can flashover or arc across air gaps," it said.
"All powerline voltages are lethal, with the risk of flashover increasing as the powerline voltage rises."
WorkSafe's full report on the incident is yet to be delivered.
Both WorkSafe and Ergon Energy declined to comment until investigations are complete.
