The Electrical Safety Committee (ESCOM) held a socialisation event to promote best practices in electrical safety, particularly within the construction sector, as part of its ongoing efforts to raise workplace safety awareness.
The event, a follow-up to its first socialisation session in May this year, was attended by Deputy Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Prime Minister’s Office Pengiran Haji Jamra Weira bin Pengiran Haji Petra as the guest of honour.
The primary objective of the event was to introduce the newly published ‘Electrical Safety Best Practice’ documents aimed at improving safety standards in the construction industry.
ESCOM’s initiative seeks to enhance safety practices among industry professionals and improve compliance with electrical safety regulations through the dissemination of these guidelines.
The event was attended by representatives from key sectors responsible for promoting and enforcing electrical safety standards in the Sultanate. Participants included core and supporting members of ESCOM, the Senior Management Team and staff of the Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA), as well as officials from the Department of Electrical Services (DES), Autoriti Elektrik Negara Brunei Darussalam (AENBD), and Berakas Power Company Sdn Bhd.
Also in attendance were management and students from educational institutions such as Institute of Brunei Technical Education and Politeknik Brunei, alongside registered electrical contractors and consultants under DES.
Several recent electrical accidents have underscored the need for increased awareness and stricter safety protocols.
In June 2023, a flashover incident during maintenance at a substation resulted in a worker suffering second- and third-degree burns. In December 2022, a worker was electrocuted while working at height, leading to a fatal fall.
These incidents highlighted the importance of addressing electrical safety challenges to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities. – Lyna Mohammad
