Safety Brief SB-810 Endeavour Energy HV cable strike and ARC flash incident

A recent incident occurred where an Endeavour Energy contractor hit a live High Voltage (HV) underground cable during excavation works with a hand-held power tool.

The contractor was engaged to prepare a trench as part of an overall program to replace Consac cabling. The Worker was in the trench, clearing material from around the base of a column using a hand-held power tool. The power tool penetrated the wall of the trench, striking a live 11kV cable and an arc fault occurred, the worker received burns to his arms and face.

Contract workers and Endeavour Energy crews working nearby provided assistance to the injured contractor, who was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital for treatment.

The initial reports suggest the worker suffered burns to his arms and face which may require a skin graft, however there did not appear to be nerve damage.

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