Powered by GoogleTranslate

Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 202360731 - Employee burned by arc flash while testing power line

Accident Summary Nr: 202360731 -- Report ID: 0352440 -- Event Date: 04/18/2006
Inspection NrDate OpenedSICNAICSEstablishment Name
30997471504/18/20061731238210Power Design, Inc.

Abstract: On April 18, 2006, Employee #1 was inspecting an excavated line of unknown ownership to determine if it was energized and if it was safe to relocate. He had been issued test equipment that included a Sears Craftsman 600-volt maximum current multimeter. Employee #1 did not contact the local electrical utility for assistance, and he did not contact his regional supervisor, who had assigned him the job, when he examined the cable and determined it might be beyond the capabilities of his equipment. Instead, he approached the excavated line and, using the black lead from his multimeter, penetrated the line sheathing, causing an arc flash. Employee #1 sustained first- and second-degree burns over 27 percent of his body, as well as undetermined nerve and sub-dermal injuries. He was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for five days. The electric utility determined that the line he contacted was a 7,500-volt feeder line. Subsequent investigation revealed that Employee #1 was employed as a journeyman electrician, but he had not been tested as such by his employer or by the county where he was working, as was required by law. He had been through no formal program of instruction from the employer, and he had not been trained or tested by the general contractor before entering the work site. He had only received a high-school equivalency to a vocational-technical education involving principles of electricity, from which he had obtained a certificate issued by a school in Jamaica that covered certain lower-level parts and subsystem replacement which, according to local law, was only to be done under the supervision of a county-certified journeyman or master electrician. In addition, Employee #1 had no testing/detection device that could safely perform the task if the cable was transmitting voltage above 600 volts. Employee #1 was not equipped with the industry-standard level of personal protective equipment appropriate for exposure to high-voltage current: for levels above 600 volts, this would include face protection, heavy duty rubberized gloves, and a heavy duty rubberized sleeve/shoulder ensemble. He had only been issued hand protection suitable for exposures under 600 volts. Employee #1 had been issued a hard hat, which he was wearing at the time of the incident. He was also wearing protective footgear, which he had been required to purchase himself. Citations were recommended for lack of provided personal protective equipment, lack of employee training, and failure of the employer to inspect the work site for hazardous conditions.

Keywords: BURN, ELEC PROTECT EQUIP, ELECTRIC ARC, ELECTRICAL TESTING, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, INEXPERIENCE, ELEC CIRC PART--MISC, SKIN, UNTRAINED
Accident Details
End Use Project Type Project Cost Stories Non-building Height Fatality
Commercial building New project or new addition $5,000,000 to $20,000,000 14 150

Employee Details
Employee # Inspection Nr Age Sex Degree of Injury Nature of Injury Occupation Construction
1 309974715 Hospitalized injury Burn/Scald(Heat) Electricians Distance of Fall: feet
Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet
Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities)
Fatality Cause: Electrocution by touching exposed wire/source

Thank You for Visiting Our Website

You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.

Close