Background

Two workers at AGL Energy’s Liddell Power Station were injured following a serious arc flash incident.

As with all serious workplace safety accidents, SafeWork NSW conducted an investigation to understand how the incident occurred, and how to prevent similar incidents happening again.

A SafeWork NSW investigation was also conducted to determine whether a business, organisation or individuals should face prosecution, following a workplace safety incident. An alternative to prosecution is for an organisation to negotiate an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with SafeWork NSW. An EU is a legally binding agreement that an organisation will carry out specific safety improvement activities and demonstrate on-going commitment to improved safety and compliance.

The AGL EU contained several initiatives designed to improve electrical critical risk identification, arc flash education, safety culture and leadership at AGL Energy and within the broader energy industry, and also increase electrical safety awareness in the broader community.

Our role

In response to the Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with Worksafe NSW, AGL Energy retained Thomson Bridge to develop a number of initiatives including a course to improve electrical critical risk identification for AGL’s staff and contractors, and the development of an industry Guideline on Electrical Arc Flash Hazard Management to be published by the Australian Energy Council (AEC).

The two AGL EU initiatives undertaken were:

1)   Develop an AEC Electrical Arc Flash Hazard Management Guideline for the industry

The AEC Electrical Arc Flash Hazard Management Guideline publication on electrical arc flash hazards and best practice control measures to eliminate or minimise the risk of arc flash, was published by the Australian Energy Council (AEC).  It contains information that should be considered for application when electrical workers are required to perform any activity on or near electrical equipment where arc flash hazards exist.

This was a highly collaborative consultation piece and involved many parties, including Worksafe NSW and AGL. A steering committee for the development of the practice guideline was convened which involved the AEC, together with a cross section of the electricity generation industry practitioners from Alinta Energy, CS Energy, Origin Energy, AGL Energy, Hydro Tasmania, Delta Electricity, Snowy Hydro, ENGIE, Stanwell Corporation, and Palisade Asset Management.

2)   Develop training on critical risks associated with operating in the electrical environment

We worked closely with AGL power stations, their leadership team, workforce and contractors to develop the Critical Risk training and then delivered this program in a series of workshops for their entire staff and contractor base. The program sought to enhance worker competency beyond trade and industry level training.

Project Details

• Client: AGL Energy
• Location: New South Wales
• Industry: Electricity Generation Industry
• Our role: Designing critical risk identification courseware for AGL Energy to improve electrical critical risk identification, safety culture and leadership across a major generation facility and the development of the AEC Electrical Arc Flash Hazard Management Guideline for industry-wide publication.
• Outcome: Enhancing staff competency beyond trade and industry level training of the critical risks together with the human factors that influence workplace behaviours toward safe working environments and the satisfaction that the Arc Flash Hazard Guidance publication was an important education piece readily available via the Australian Energy Council.

• Resources
  

• A copy of the AGL Macquarie Enforceable Undertaking is available on the SafeWork NSW website

• The Electrical Arc Flash Hazard Guidance was published by the Australian Energy Council (AEC) and can be downloaded here. 

• The Australian Energy Council represents 23 major electricity and downstream natural gas businesses operating in competitive wholesale and retail energy markets. These businesses collectively generate the overwhelming majority of electricity in Australia and sell gas and electricity to over 10 million homes and businesses.