Electrical Flash Over 09.08.03

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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.
LTI NO. 20
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Electrical Flash Over
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 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
Discussions

• 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?

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Electrical Flash Over 09.08.03

• As 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 !

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