Energy type: 
Electricity
 
Event summary: 
Energy Safety received a complaint from the father of victim after a battery auto jump starter unit connected to a vehicle battery exploded. The victim's father reported laceration injuries to the victims face, bruising to the upper torso, and temporary hearing loss in one ear.
 
Accident ID: 
151217-02
 
Accident date: 
2 December 2015
 
Site: 
Domestic
 
Environment: 
Building
 
Voltage: 
230
 
Equipment: 
Auto Jump starter unit
 
Accident type: 
Fire
 
Casualty: 
Non-fatality
 
Injury: 
Mechanical
 
Property damage level: 
No property damage
 
Outcome of investigation: 

The likely cause for the explosion was a build-up of gases emitted from the battery within the sealed unit containing the internal battery of the jump starter unit, which ignited when the unit was switched on. The most likely cause of gas build-up was when the internal battery was abnormally charged using a charger that was defective, or one not supplied with the unit. A large number of these and similar units have been sold and used without incident. The supplier of the unit wants to investigate this incident further and will try to develop ways to minimise the risk of any similar accidents in the future.

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