Wind farm power cabinet explosion injures maintenance worker
June 2020Published 30 Sept 2026
What happened
A subcontractor working on a wind farm was injured when a power cabinet controlling 33,000 volts exploded. The worker had been carrying out maintenance on one of two cabinets at the site. An initial isolation switching programme had been changed twice, leading to confusion over which cabinet had been isolated. Power was restored to the wrong cabinet while work continued. A flashover occurred, engulfing the worker in flames. Colleagues used fire extinguishers and cold water until emergency services arrived. The worker was airlifted to a specialist burns unit and required multiple surgeries. The operator admitted health and safety breaches and was fined.
Contributing factors
The original isolation switching programme was not followed. Changes to the programme caused confusion over which cabinet was isolated. The cabinets were poorly labelled. Checks that the correct cabinets had been isolated were inadequate.
Lessons learned
- Ensure isolation switching programmes are followed exactly and any changes are clearly communicated and documented.
- Label all high-voltage cabinets clearly and unambiguously before maintenance begins.
- Verify isolation of the correct equipment before work proceeds and before power is restored.
Source
Published 2026-09-30. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.