Substation fire in Kampung Datuk Keramat during repair works

What happened

A fire broke out at a Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) substation in Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, while repair works were being carried out. In a statement on Wednesday 5 July 2023, the City Fire and Rescue Department said sparks broke out after an electrical cable was hit with water during the repair works at the Mindef power processing units (PPU) substation. The sparks showered the street. The source does not report the number of people working on site, any injuries, how long the fire lasted, or whether supply to nearby customers was affected.

Contributing factors

Water contacted an electrical cable during repair works at the substation, according to the City Fire and Rescue Department. The source does not state whether the cable had been isolated and de-energised before work began, or what the repair work involved.

Lessons learned

1. Confirm that cables and equipment are isolated and de-energised before repair work starts on or near a substation.
2. Keep water and wet materials away from live electrical conductors, and use controlled methods where water use cannot be avoided.
3. Plan maintenance on energised substations with a permit-to-work system, a named competent supervisor and fire cover on standby.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, worker safety and safe systems of work, from every incident on the register.

Source

thestar.com.my