UK Power Networks has been ordered to pay £420,000 in fines and costs after an engineer died during an explosion at an electrical substation in Essex.
John Higgins, 59, was working as an electrical engineer for UK Power Networks when he was called out to find a fault at a substation in Bishops Hall Lane in Chelmsford, on 7 May 2008.
He was manually adjusting voltage ratios on a transformer tap changer, when it exploded and caused a fire at the substation. Emergency services arrived at the scene within minutes but they were unable to revive him. The explosion also caused a blackout to a large part of Chelmsford.
The HSE investigated the incident and found the explosion was caused by a mechanical failure on part of the tap changer’s selector mechanism. HSE Principal Inspector Annette Hall told SHP that although the way in which the tap changer failed could not have been foreseen, this type of equipment is potentially dangerous and so systems and procedures should have been put in place to identify and manage possible faults. It also failed to ascertain if it was safe to carry out the work without isolating the transformer.
HSE Inspector Steven Gill said: “John Higgins lost his life in tragic circumstances, which could have been avoided had this activity been properly assessed and managed by UK Power Networks.
“His death illustrates how dangerous work on or near electrical distribution networks can be, and how imperative it is that employers ensure that all activities involving high-voltage electrical equipment are properly assessed and that safe systems of work are in place.”
UK Power Networks (Operations) Ltd appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 4 January and pleaded guilty to breaching s2(1) of the HSWA 1974. It was fined £275,000 and ordered to pay £145,000 in costs.
In mitigation, the company said it cooperated with the investigation and has subsequently banned work on live transformers.
After the hearing, a spokesperson from UK Power Networks said: “The health and safety of our staff and everyone affected by our work activities are of paramount importance to UK Power Networks. We strive to ensure all our workers return home from work safely every day.€
The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.
Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!
Previously reported in SHP -Energy giant lands £519,000 penalty for power-line fatality
01 September 2011
It would seem that these SH are aware of the risk but would rather ignor the potential consequences. Hence another avoidable fatality?
Isolation of supply is paramount for any serious effort at mitigating risk. Work on any live circuit, let alone a HV supply that is energised is to be avoided where possible at all times.
Why is it that I know this but they do not
Is the substation was protected by automatic suppression system amd may deluge system for this open space ?.
If not why the regulations don’t enforce them being protected .
e.g. Jordan have very Strict mandatory regulation in such kid of protection.
Hope will not be happed in the future especailly cuasing a loss of lifes.
SJP – We contacted the inspector again for further clarity and have amended the story accordingly.
“HSE Principal Inspector Annette Hall told SHP the fault could not have been foreseen, but the power firm had failed to put procedures in place to identify the equipment needed to deal with the fault.”
I don’t understand this, if you cannot foresee an event, how can you put procedures in place to deal with an event you can not foresee?
Bob, with all due respect to the lives lost and the reported details, your comments are quite frankly what one would expect from an uneducated person totally unaware of the facts in each case. I presume you are not uneducated, so can only presume you have not bothered to engage your thoughts before commenting, and I find it a shame that you have nothing positive to offer.
Everything is very open with a very clear clarification of
the issues. It was definitely informative. Your site is extremely helpful.
Thanks for sharing!