Energy Isolation – Contractor Fatality

Incident No.: NA Date/Time: 28-June-2023 / 9:15 am

Incident Title: Contractor Fatality – electric shock Location:

while troubleshooting at ESP Razzak: WRZK-32
switchboard panel

Brief Incident Description:

Two contractor employees, an ESP engineer (IP) and an ESP assistant were conducting routine commissioning
of ESP (electrical submersible pump) surface equipment and pump, in preparation for initial startup. During this
process, the team observed a sensor issue. The IP began to troubleshoot inside the live (2500 V) switchboard
panel to check some terminal connections of the wires that connect the switchboard contactors to the choke panel.
While checking the connections of the wires, his left hand contacted the bottom side of the “live/hot” end of the
contactor. Consequently, he suffered an electric shock.

Switchboard
Panel Disconnect Switch
Panel
Control Panel

High voltage
contactors (2500 V)

Choke Panel IP touched the bottom (unprotected side) of this contactor at

the termination plate.

Preliminary / Direct Cause(s):

• Not following work procedures/Inadequate assessment of hazards: working around “live/hot” wire
connections without confirming that the hazardous energy source has been isolated.
• Failure to isolate energy: throwing the switchboard panel disconnect switch to the “off” position prior to
carrying out troubleshooting activity would have de-energized the panel.

Immediate Actions:
• Power to ESP switchboard panel immediately isolated
• Work activity was stopped
• Medic at wellsite immediately engaged and emergency response plan activated
• Incident scene secured and investigation initiated

Please Direct Questions to:

Name: Mohamed ElQashawy Contact: safetyalerts@apachecorp.com
Western Desert Fields – Deputy EH&S Manager

The foregoing Incident Alert is intended to provide a high-level overview for internal use only and should
not be distributed outside the Company. It does not constitute a formal incident report and the
information presented herein is subject to change pending investigation.

Environment, Health and Safety Version 2.0 Last Updated 02/02/2021