Arc flash incident prompts investigation
WorkSafe Queensland is investigating an incident in which a worker received burns as a result of an arc flash incident while working on high-voltage electrical equipment.
The regulator’s initial inquiries indicate that electrical work was being carried out in relation to the installation of cables and circuits associated with a new transformer.
During this work, it appears an isolator was switched, resulting in a short circuit at the cable connection. This caused an arc flash.
In an arc flash, a release of electrical energy causes an explosion that can reach temperatures of up to 20,000°C — four times hotter than the surface of the sun. An arc flash usually occurs in large switchboards, but can also occur in smaller switchboards, electricity supply pillars or large electrical equipment.
According to WorkSafe, common causes of arc flash include:
- unsafe work practices and procedures
- foreign materials
- breakdown of busbar insulation
- electrical equipment failure such as a switch, circuit breaker or loose cables
- contacting energised equipment with uninsulated tools
- using test equipment not designed or rated for the job.
Electrical work on energised electrical equipment can put workers at risk of inadvertent contact with an energised part, resulting in electric shocks and exposure to an arc flash.
WorkSafe warned that the risk of working near energised electrical equipment can be as great as working on the parts themselves. The regulator said there had been a number of serious incidents where workers received significant injuries from an arc flash when they were working near exposed energised equipment and did not consider further upstream isolation.
WorkSafe has a range of resources available to help prevent arc flash incidents, including Electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment, Managing the risks of high fault current and the video below.
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