Posted By Paul Have your say! To all: In reference to reportable Dangerous Occurrences outlined in Electrical Short Circuit paragraph 5 (118) of RIDDOR, it states ‘Where the failure of an item of electrical equipment results in a fire or explosion, the failure is reportable as a dangerous occurrence if the equipment concerned is rendered unusable for over 24 hours, or if the occurrence was one with the potential to cause the death of any person………and so on. It is interpreted that a person inadvertently closing an earth switch that was in perfect working order (through human error, no equipment failure) on a live HV electrical system that caused damage to a circuit breaker with the release of small purpose designed pressure relief perspex panels but no injuries would not be deemed reportable under RIDDOR due to the equipment not failing in itself to cause fire or explosion, commercial management would interpret the scenario reportable after reading the paragraph. Question: Reportable or Not Reportable.

Posted By David Fellows I agree with Heather that it should not be reportable - however I do not add the fire explosion or potential for injury. There is always potential for injury and if the first requirment of the electrical equipment not failing is met then the rest is of no consequence and reporting wise would be picked up by other sections of Riddor. A further point regarding reporting - just in case - should not the HSE do its duty and reject - or are its published figures suspect?

Posted By Mark P Edwards I do not see this as a RIDDOR reportable, but Dave Fellows raises an interesting point about whether or not the HSE should reject submissions of this nature. Annual statistics that include incidents such as this are misleading and by rejecting such submissions the HSE could serve to educate H&S professionals and increase their effectiveness in their roles.