The SMART team has begun auditing hand-stations at Sydney Water treatment plants to identify any posing electric shock risks. Audits of four plants found defect rates of up to 22% for metal-clad or metal-button hand-stations. Site managers are to mark any risky stations as out of use until assessed by an electrician. Over the next four months, more inspections will occur and faulty stations will be replaced in coordination with site managers. A maintenance strategy update is planned to prevent future hand-station deterioration.

1. Authorisation
and contact
Issued by: A/ Maintenance Contracts Manager– Geoff Watson
Contact for further information: A/HV Team Leader – Chris Dumbrell
0478 478 660
Expiry date December 2017
Fatal Risk Standard – Working with Electricity
Risk of electric shock from metal hand-stations
Attention: Customer Delivery, LCS-Delivery Management, Ventia and Contractors
Alert number: 08
5th
July 2017
Situation
The SMART team has recently commenced site audits and
inspections on existing 240V hand-stations on Sydney Water
treatment plants. The objective is to identify field hand-stations
at facilities that pose a potential risk to operators.
Audits and inspections have been conducted at the following
facilities with the following defect rates
• Shellharbour WWTP (7% defect rate)
• Wollongong WWTP (5% defect rate)
• Bellambi WWTP (22% defect rate)
• Port Kembla WWTP (5% defect rate)
These initial sites have identified a high rate of defects
specifically with metal clad hand-stations or hand-stations
that have metal buttons. These defects pose an elevated risk
of electric shock. Plastic hand-stations are safe.
Risks Electric shock from a faulty hand-station can cause serious or fatal injuries.
Immediate
actions
•••• Responsible site managers to identify all metal clad and metal button hand stations and mark
them as ‘do not operate’ using a LOTO cinch/sack bag or equivalent (Brady bags supplied by
Bunzl Brands, large bag product #877752, small bag #65780), to ensure people know not to
touch the hand-station.
•••• Use of all metal clad or metal button hand-stations to be ceased until they have been assessed
by a competent electrician. If you need to operate the hand-station, Ventia electricians are
available under master work order 73717350 on all Sydney Water facilities.
Corrective
actions
•••• The audit and inspection program is underway at Treatment facilities and is scheduled to be
completed within 4 months. Replacement of faulty hand-stations will be arranged with the local
site manager as the audits progress.
•••• An audit and inspection program will be developed for Network facilities.
•••• The maintenance strategy for metal clad hand-stations will be improved and updated to prevent
future deterioration.