CASE STUDY OF ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT

1. Station – Gandhidham (GIM) Division –

Ahmedabad
2. Date and time – 18th July 2018 at 13.25
hours
3. Location – GIM railway station circulating
area
4. Brief description of job – Maintenance of
high mast
5. Supply system – 415 Volt, 50 Hz, three-
phase, AC supply
6. Chronology of events –
i. On date 18/07/2018, S/Shri Anatha Raju and Prahlad Meena, TCN along
with Shri Saroj Kumar, Khalasi were deputed to attend the non-working of
high mast provided in the circulating area of GIM station.
ii. During the rectification work it was found that out of three phases, supply
in one phase was not available.
iii. The supply to the high mast was fed through overhead distribution lines.
Thus, the staff decided to attend the overhead jumpers of the line.
iv. The decision to affect shut down on the concerned feeder was
communicated on cell phone to Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha who was deputed to
work in Generator and Panel Room.
v. Accordingly, Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha switched ‘OFF’ the MCCB controlling
the concerned feeder. This fact was again confirmed on cell phone that the
line has been rendered ‘Electrically Dead’.
vi. At the same time i.e. at 13.25 hours the local supply failed due to which
there was no supply indication on the high mast panel.
vii. On receiving confirmation from Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha that supply to the
concerned feeder has been ‘shut down’, Shri Anatha Raju climbed on the
pole to rectify the fault in jumpers.
viii.Simultaneously, the standby DG set was also started as the local supply
had failed and DG Set supply was extended to essential feeders.
ix. As soon as the DG Set supply was extended, Shri Anatha Raju received a fatal
electrical shock.
7. Cause of Accident –
i. Highly negligent working on the part of Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha. On the
request of the maintenance team he had switched ‘OFF’ the controlling
MCCB by means of the rotary handle. Later investigations revealed that the
MCCB was not properly operated and the supply was not switched ‘OFF’
which was the reason for Shri Anatha Raju receiving a fatal electrical shock.
ii. The maintenance team should have ‘Earthed’ the overhead lines through
earthing chain before climbing up the pole.

Procedural Lapses –

the shut down and permit to work were done on cell phones. instead one person
should have gone to the panel room and switched ‘off’ the concerned mccb and
put a ‘man at work’ board on the feeder switch.
overhead lines were not earthed before commencing the work.
after operating the mccb, shri sanjay kumar jha should have ensured that there is
no supply to the concerned feeder.
7. Cause of Accident –
i. Highly negligent working on the part of Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha. On the
request of the maintenance team he had switched ‘OFF’ the controlling
MCCB by means of the rotary handle. Later investigations revealed that the
MCCB was not properly operated and the supply was not switched ‘OFF’
which was the reason for Shri Anatha Raju receiving a fatal electrical shock.
ii. The maintenance team should have ‘Earthed’ the overhead lines through
earthing chain before climbing up the pole.

Procedural Lapses –
THE SHUT DOWN AND PERMIT TO WORK WERE DONE ON CELL PHONES.
INSTEAD ONE PERSON SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE PANEL ROOM AND
SWITCHED ‘OFF’ THE CONCERNED MCCB AND PUT A ‘MAN AT WORK’ BOARD ON
THE FEEDER SWITCH