OneSteel fined over arc flash incident

OneSteel, a global steel manufacturer, has been convicted and fined by the Industrial Court today over an “ad hoc work method” that put an apprentice worker at risk of electrocution.

SafeWork SA prosecuted after investigating an incident at the company’s Whyalla steelworks in July 2008. Two workers had been tasked with the thermal imaging of live switchboards. One was a qualified electrician and the other a 19-year-old, second-year apprentice.

As the apprentice removed the cover of a switchboard during the course of this work, the cover swung free and came into contact with live electrical equipment. This caused the arcing of electricity with a resulting flash and blast. The young man was stunned by the force of the blast and suffered burns to his face and left hand. Fortunately these were minor, and he returned to full work duties within weeks, having suffered no lasting ill-effects.

Aside from the obvious risk of electrocution, SafeWork SA’s investigation revealed several shortcomings in the approach to this type of work: a failure to provide an adequate safe operating procedure for the task; a failure to provide adequate instruction, information and training for the task; a failure to ensure adequate personal protective equipment was worn for the task; and additional hazards were created through having numerous switchboard panels open. The company was fined $48,000 after a reduction of 20% to acknowledge the company’s early plea, cooperation, contrition and effective remedial action in response to the incident.