Queensland Urban Utilities

Category three – Best solution to an identified electrical issue

Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) developed a work instruction to protect workers from the risk of arc flash while undertaking activities around electrical switchboards.

All electrical switchboards in QUU territory were categorised and arc flash category labels were attached identifying the hazard category level. This was accompanied by a procedure to upgrade any sites with high arc flash hazard levels, with the aim that the arc flash hazard level of any electrical asset is Category 2 or below. Any sites that could not be remediated are referred to a capital project asset renewals program, particularly where the switchboard is due for replacement.

Workers arriving at a switchboard first check the arc flash label for the hazard category level and then refer to the work instruction and apply the control measures relevant to the hazard category level.

Left to right: Steve Bourke, Paul Bourboulas, Kerry McGovern and Sebastian Gueth