Electrical Flash Over 09.08.03

An Electrician working on a live electrical distribution (DB)

board (415V/240V) sustained burns from electrical flashover.

He had assumed panel was dead.

1LTI NO. 20

The Electrician was loosening the neutral phase nut in a live DB

with un-insulated adjustable spanner,

resulting in electrical flashover when it

touched live phase. He sustained burns to face

and arms.

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Electrical Flash Over

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Electrical Flash Over 09.08.03

Incident Investigation Findings:The electrician, though a CEP (Competent Electrical Person), did not observe and follow Electrical Safety Rules (SP-1104)

Other Findings:

• All live electrical panels in the area were not locked.

• The electrical DB which the electrician worked on was not locked prior his arrival on site (therefore reinforcing assumption that it was dead).

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Electrical Flash Over 09.08.03

• How could the Supervisor of the Electrician have prevented this incident?

• What should the electrician have done before starting his job?

• If you found an electrical DB unlocked, what would you do?

Discussions

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Electrical Flash Over 09.08.03As an Electrician:• Are you aware of SP-1104(ESR)? Do you

understand it?• Is a copy available at your work place?• Are you aware of anything that would hinder

you complying with it?• Does this incident remind you of any similar

incident in the past?

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Electrical Flash Over 09.08.03

What should we do to prevent similar incident?

• All electricians must observe and follow the Electrical Safety Rules (SP-1104)

• Apply STOP observations before each job, even though we are confident of what we are doing.

• THINK! THINK! ! THINK! !!

• THINK OF THE SAFEST WAY TO DO ANY OF YOUR ACTIVITIES (AT WORK OR OFF WORK), THEN ACT IN THE SAFEST WAY !