Transformer explosion injures electrical worker in Eskişehir, Turkey

What happened

An explosion occurred at an electricity transformer on Elazığ Street in the 75. Yıl neighbourhood of Odunpazarı district, Eskişehir, Turkey, according to a Turkish news report. The cause was not known at the time of reporting. A 25-year-old electrical worker, reported to have been carrying out work inside the transformer, was caught in an electric current and injured. The report says burns were reported on the worker's body. Police, health and municipal fire department teams were sent to the scene after residents alerted emergency services.

First aid was given at the scene and the worker was taken to the burns centre of Eskişehir City Hospital for treatment. Police opened an investigation. The report does not give the cause of the explosion, the state of the equipment, or the work being carried out.

Contributing factors

Not reported. The source says the worker was reportedly carrying out work inside the transformer at the time, but does not say what work was being done or whether isolation procedures were applied.

Lessons learned

1. Isolate and prove dead distribution equipment before any work inside a transformer enclosure, and apply lock-out and tag-out procedures.
2. Confirm that the work scope, permits and authorisation match the actual state of the equipment before work starts.
3. Keep an emergency plan for electrical injuries, including first aid and rapid transfer to a burns unit, and rehearse it with local emergency services.

More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Source

aksiyon.com.tr