News & Views

ESV is warning electrical contractors and workers to be vigilant about non-complaint switchboards following a recent incident in which a copper lug fell through a gap onto a live busbar.

Two workers were lucky not to be injured when the copper lug they were fitting to the end of a cable fell through a 23mm gap at the rear of the switchboard enclosure. The lug contacted live busbars, causing a large arc event that resulted in extensive damage to the switchboard.

Lock out and tag out procedures were followed and in place.

The subsequent investigation found the switchboard was non-compliant and the design, construction and installation failed to meet the requirements of AS/NZS 3000:2007 and the IP2X rating from one enclosure to another.

The fault had not previously been identified by any of the electrical workers who installed and worked on the switchboard or signed off the Certificate of Electrical Safety

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