Investigations are currently underway into an incident at the north Appin mine, where an electrician suffered burns from an arcing flash while conducting fault-finding tasks.

The New South Wales Resources Regulator is looking into the circumstances that caused the incident in June, with the investigation examining steps taken beforehand to eliminate or minimise risks.

According to the watchdog’s report, the incident involved two electrical tradespersons undertaking an internal inspection on a workshop 415V distribution board. They were at the isolation point, trying to close the circuit breaker.

When it wouldn’t close, the workers began fault-finding tasks.

During this process, one of the racking handles inadvertently made contact with a live wire and the enclosure frame causing the arc blast, which led to one of the workers suffering arc flash burns to his left hand.

Now, the NSW regulator is considering whether effective steps were taken where necessary, including adequacy of control plans and procedures, training and supervision, risk management tools and procedures, duties of persons conducting business undertakings (PCBUs), as well as the adequacy of plant, equipment and ancillary devices involved in the incident.

Last month, following a rise in electrical shocks in the industry, the resources regulator also released a safety bulletin outlining a series of recommendations for mine operators to consider.

Under that, operators were urged to assess their electrical engineering control plans to confirm the existing safeguards against electric shock are suitable for the specific tasks being carried out.

The assessment, NSW regulator said, should include an evaluation of how well these risk controls are being applied.