Electrical accidents and dangerous occurrences

This chapter explains the main types of accidents and dangerous occurrences that arise from electrical systems. It also provides some statistical information on incidents, mainly those that occur during work activity. 

Some forms of electrical incident, such as the explosive failure of an item of high voltage switchgear belonging to an electricity distribution company, have to be reported to the DTFs engineering inspectorate. This reporting duty is covered by the Electricity Supply Regulations, as explained in Chapter 8. 

Electric burns, and electric shock combined with burns, account for most of the work-related reported electrical accidents. Electric shocks on their own, although very common occurrences, are infrequently notified to the enforcement authorities. This is because an electric shock injury only needs to be reported if it results in death or unconsciousness, or in the injured person being detained in hospital for 24 hours or longer, or in the person 

Fires and explosions, other than arcing and flashover, constitute a small minority of the reported incidents. In most cases no one is injured and the incident is classified as a dangerous occurrence if the reporting criteria for such incidents are met this mainly means that the incident should be reported if the fire or explosion results in the plant being out of use for 24 hours or more. There is a mandatory requirement to report incidents which involve unintentional contact with an overhead power Kne, but contact with an underground cable does not need to be reported unless it results in a fire or explosion and loss of supply for 24 hours or more. 

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It can be assumed that the numbers for fatal accidents will be accurate because the HSE learns about all workplace deaths, but those for non-fatal injuries will seriously underestimate the actual number of workplace injuries because of endemic underreporting. Many employers and self-employed people are reluctant to report injuries to the HSE, despite the fact that not to do so is a breach of the Reporting of Injuries and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Another influencing factor is that the Regulations only require to be reported those electric shock injuries that lead to unconsciousness or require resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours very many electric shock incidents do not fall within those categories. Otherwise, electrical injuries must be reported if they lead to ... 

When considering dangerous occurrences rather than electrical accidents, there are two types of incident that are reportable to the HSE and are therefore of interest ... 

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