Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200052660 - Employee shocked by extension cord while reversing polarity

Accident Summary Nr: 200052660 -- Report ID: 0728900 -- Event Date: 01/12/2006
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
308680156	01/17/2006	1771	238990	Northwest Concrete Cutters

Abstract: On January 12, 2006, Employee #1 and a coworker were cutting the concrete in an existing structure in preparation for installing additional plumbing as part of a renovation project. The workers were using a 480-volt AC concrete saw powered by a truck-mounted generator. Employee #1 was alone, setting up the equipment, while his supervisor discussed the cuts to be made and their locations with the general contractor. While testing the saw, Employee #1 realized that the polarity was reversed and he decided to correct this by changing the cord. He disconnected the saw cord from the extension cord running to the generator. Employee #1 was supposed to re-wire the de-energized side of the cord, the saw cord, but began to disassemble the generator side of the cord while the generator was running. As he was working, he contacted a 277-volt single phase of the three-phase cord and sustained third-degree burns to the middle fingers on both hands. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted for treatment. Subsequent investigation found that the previous job had involved an incorrectly wired 480-volt power source; this was a common occurrence at some of the construction sites where Employee #1 had performed concrete-cutting operations, and it was easier to reverse the wires in the cord than to wait for the electrician to arrive and correct the polarity issues within the circuit. At this site, they were using the company-owned generator, which was correctly wired.

Keywords: BURN, ELECTRICAL, FINGER, WORK RULES, CORD SET, CONSTRUCTION, ELEC CIRC PART--MISC, ELECTRIC SHOCK, ELECTRIC CORD

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Commercial building		Alteration or rehabilitation		$50,000 to $250,000	1	30

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	308680156			Hospitalized injury	Electric Shock	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Cutting concrete pavement Fatality Cause: Electric shock, other and unknown cause

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