The Resources Regulator in NSW has begun an investigation into an incident in which an electrician suffered burns from an arcing flash.
The incident occurred at Appin Mine North (Westcliff Colliery) in Appin, NSW on 7 June 2025.
Two electrical tradespersons had completed an internal inspection on a workshop 415V distribution board (DSBW202) at 1.15 pm on 7 June 2025. They were at the isolation point, trying to close the circuit breaker (ACB1) in distribution board (DSBW201).
The circuit breaker would not close, so the workers began fault-finding tasks.
While investigating the function of closing the circuit breaker ACB2, which is adjacent to ACB1, the circuit breaker racking handle was used as a levering tool. During the process, the racking handle inadvertently made contact with a live phase and the enclosure frame (i.e. earthed) causing a phase-to-earth fault and a subsequent arc blast. As a result, one of the workers suffered arc flash burns to his left hand.
Read the full investigation information release. (PDF, 351.62 KB)
