Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200920569 - Two employees burned by electric panel fire, one dies

Accident Summary Nr: 200920569 -- Report ID: 0355111 -- Event Date: 09/06/2001
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304137979	09/06/2001	1731	0	Tate & Hill Inc

Abstract: At 2:30 p.m. on September 6, 2001 Employees #1 and #2 were preparing for the installation of a new electric heating unit at the group of doors leading to the main entrance of a building. They were looking for a source of power for the unit in an energized 480-volt, three-phase panelboard rated at 400 amps. Employee #1 removed the two brass-like screws that were holding a blank-off plate on the front of the panelboard, located on the left side at the bottom, where another circuit breaker could be installed for the new electric heating unit. The right side of the blank-off plate dropped into the panelboard, touched the live busbar, and welded itself in place between the busbar and the circuit breaker housing. A ball of fire shot out of the panelboard, and Employees #1 and #2 were burned by a spray of molten metal. They were transported to the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Hospital. Employee #1 died on September 27, 2001, as a result of his injuries. Employee #2 was treated and later released from the hospital.

Keywords: BURN, INSTALLING, WORK RULES, FIRE, BUSBAR, CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL WORK, LOCKOUT, MOLTEN METAL, ELEC CIRC PART--MISC

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Other building		Alteration or rehabilitation		Under $50,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	304137979			Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Electricians	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Installing equipment (HVAC and other) Fatality Cause: Fire/explosion
2	304137979			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Electricians	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Installing equipment (HVAC and other) Fatality Cause: Fire/explosion

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