THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is taking the e-way to ensure the safety of its staffers and contract employees at the workplace.To reduce chances of accidents while working on overhead power lines and other electrical installations, the KSEB is introducing a mobile app to streamline the process through which KSEB’s distribution wing officers authorise work or place requests for it. The app, being developed by KSEB’s IT wing, will be rolled out soon, said officers.
Alarmed by the rise in fatal accidents a while back, KSEB had introduced the Permit to Work (PTW) system, wherein clear guidelines were set for authorising work on electrical installations. In a nutshell, PTW requires officers to undertake a work only after getting due permission from their superiors. PTW was also the result of a finding that, in many instances, accidents were caused by flaws in communication between various KSEB units. The shift to the smartphone-compatible e-platform is seen as the next step in making the PTW mechanism fool-proof.
“The app will make the entire process of authorising work and placing requests for it more systematic. Both activities can be done via the app. There will also be proper records for every instruction given or received. At present this is done over the phone,” said J Sathyarajan, executive engineer, KSEB IT wing. In August, Electricity Minister M M Mani had said five KSEB staffers and three contract workers had died in electrical mishaps while at work till then in 2017. In 2016, six staffers and 12 contract workers had died and in 2015, the toll was eight and 17, respectively. Mishaps connected to KSEB’s installations had claimed the lives of 12 staff and 13 contract workers in 2012.
Smart move
KSEB to introduce a mobile app to streamline the way KSEB’s distribution wing officers authorise work or place requests for it
The move aims at reducing workplace accidents, while working on overhead power lines and other electrical installations
The app will also allow keeping of proper records for every instruction given or received by superiors and workers
Deaths due to electrical mishaps
2015:
8 staffers; 17 contract workers
2016:
6 staffers; 12 contract workers
2017 (till Aug):
5 staffers; 3 contract workers