An investigation has begun into the hospitalisation of a worker who suffered 26 percent burns in an incident at the Fijian Holdings Ltd tower last month.
The investigation is being conducted by Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL) and the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Employment Relations.
The incident resulted in the hospitalisation of the worker who suffered 26 percent “arc flash burns” and another worker who was released from hospital after being cleared by doctors.
The incident resulted in the postponement of the official opening of the tower.
A worker who spoke to The Fiji Times on the condition of anonymity said the incident happened on November 21.
“Pioneer Supplies Ltd was conducting pressure testing and their pipe burst. Water gushed out of the level they were working on and flooded a few other levels below resulting in a power outage,” the worker claimed.
“This was on a Thursday and power was off until Sunday. On Monday morning, two staff members from LEPS (Lighting and Electrical Protection Services Pte Ltd) went in to check if the tower was safe to enter while we waited outside.
“They went level by level, switching on the power from level one all the way up after the OK was given from EFL to do so. They were going to turn on all the power and we’d catch a lift up to the level where we were working.”
The worker said the incident happened on Level 8 when one of the two men entered the buzz duct room.
He said the workers waiting downstairs were caught by surprise when the power suddenly went off; a few minutes later the two men emerged, with one carrying the other.
“No one knew that there had been an accident, but just from looking at his body, we could tell that he had electrical burns.
“After 12pm, the OHS officer went in to see the injured man in the hospital and the officer said that his whole body was pink.
“From then until now the building has been closed off and we haven’t resumed work.”
A contractor, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said about “10,000 litres” of water had flooded seven levels, resulting in a roof caving in.
The contractor said the injured worker suffered from “arc flash burns” and not electrocution as reported by the media.
Questions have been sent to EFL on how approval was given to restore power to the building, and if they’d visited the site after the incident.
In response, EFL chief executive officer Hasmukh Patel said they were conducting an investigation.
Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations Minister Agni Deo Singh also confirmed to this newspaper that the ministry was conducting its investigation and an incident report would be prepared.
