Two arc flash incidents burn workers

Two Queensland electrical workers have suffered burns from an arc flash during separate incidents.

According to a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland incident alert, the first incident occurred in September 2018. The electrical worker received burns to his hands when his pliers shorted two phases while attempting to fit a three-phase circuit breaker to a live switchboard.

In the second incident, which occurred in October 2018, the alert states that an electrical worker was burned on his hand, neck and face while he was terminating cables running to a switchboard.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.

According to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, before work begins it is essential to identify hazards and put measures in place to control the risk of electric shock, explosion or fire.

 The incident alert states that electrical safety laws prohibit work on energised electrical equipment unless:

• it is necessary in the interests of health and safety that the electrical work is carried out while the equipment is energised (for example, it may be necessary for lifesaving equipment to remain energised and operating while electrical work is carried out on the equipment);
• it is necessary that the electrical equipment to be worked on is energised in order for the work to be carried out properly;
• it is necessary for the purposes of testing to ensure the equipment is de-energised;
• there is no reasonable alternative means of carrying out the work.
   

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