Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201037124 - Burn - Electrical Fault During Continuity Testing

Accident Summary Nr: 201037124 -- Report ID: 0950635 -- Event Date: 01/23/2005
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
305478489	04/13/2005	1731	238210	Magnetic Electric In

Abstract: An electrician and a coworker were checking the rotation of fans on a newly installed air conditioning unit located on the roof of a five-story building. The electrician was checking the continuity of wiring in the electrical room located on the fourth floor of the building. He took a jumper with which he would connect the exposed phase and ground. The coworker remained on the roof with a continuity tester to ensure proper rotation of the fans. The electrician was unaware that the feed from the generator was coming in opposite from what he was normally accustomed to. Consequently, he attached one end of the continuity jumper to an energized conductor. When he touched the other end to ground, he caused an electrical fault. The ensuing electric arc burned the employee and started a fire. The electrician was hospitalized for 60 days with first-, second-, and third-degree burns to his face, arms, and neck.

Keywords: BURN, ELECTRIC ARC, E GI IV, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICAL TESTING, ELECTRICIAN, ELECTRICAL WORK, LOCKOUT, ELECTRICAL FAULT

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Commercial building		Maintenance or repair		Under $50,000	5

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	305478489			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Electricians	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Installing equipment (HVAC and other) Fatality Cause: Electrocution by touching exposed wire/source

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