Two ESB employees were fatally injured when they were caught up in an electrical explosion while testing equipment at the ESB generating station in Tarbert, Co Kerry, an inquest into their deaths heard yesterday.
Mr Mike Healy (48) and Mr Patrick McCrohan (38) were testing switch gear at the plant on July 3rd, 2003, when a circuit breaker failed and there was an explosion which engulfed both men in flames.
Yesterday their colleague, Mr Dermot Thornton, told Cork City Coroners Court that his two workmates were completely on fire within seconds of the explosion and he grabbed two fire extinguishers in a bid to quench the flames burning the two men.
"I looked at the two lads but they were completely on fire. I took a fire extinguisher and discharged one on Pat McCrohan to put it out. I think I discharged some on Michael Healy too," said Mr Thornton, who is recovering from injuries he suffered in the blaze.
A GP was called and all three men were given first aid before being taken to Tralee General Hospital. Mr McCrohan and Mr Healy were later transferred to Cork University Hospital where Mr McCrohan died on July 4th. Mr Healy died six days later.
Mr Billy Menton, ESB Coal and Oil and Gas Division power generation manager, who led the company's internal investigation, told the inquest that the accident occurred after a circuit breaker failed to interrupt the motor current. Since the accident, all local operation of switch gear has been stopped and was now carried out from a control room.
The inquest heard that post-mortems by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster revealed that Mr McCrohan died of cardiac failure due to severe burns. Mr Healy incurred 60 per cent full thickness burns in the blaze and died of bronchial pneumonia due to the burns. The jury returned a verdict of misadventure. Cork City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane extended her sympathies to the families of Mr McCrohan, from Doon, Tralee, and Mr Healy, from Tarbert, saying it had been a sad course of events for all concerned.
The Health and Safety Authority yesterday confirmed that it would not be bringing any prosecution in the case. The authority identified a number of safety improvements to work practices at Tarbert and has been assured they will be put in place.