Beware of the risks of working with high-voltage plant

The Queensland Electrical Safety Office (ESO) is reminding workers to beware of the risks of working with high-voltage plant.

In 2015, two electrical workers were killed in Western Australia in an explosion while they were maintaining a Long and Crawford high-voltage oil-insulated fuse switch. The high current fault occurred in the tank of the unit, vaporising most of the insulating oil and causing the fatal explosion, the ESO said in a statement.

The ESO is reminding electrical workers that it is unsafe to perform work on any electrical equipment while it is energised. Oil-filled switches found in service should only be worked on under safe access to high-voltage procedures.

Owners, operators and electrical workers using the Long and Crawford or any oil-insulated fuse switch should not open the lid of these units unless it is completely isolated from the electricity supply.

Further information about the Long and Crawford incident can be found on the Western Australian EnergySafety website.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Charles Schug