Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 202363776 - Two employees burned by electric arcs from same panel

Accident Summary Nr: 202363776 -- Report ID: 1055320 -- Event Date: 01/20/2004
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
307197145	02/01/2004	1731	238210	Global Electric/Communication

Abstract: On Jannuary 20, 2004, Employees #1 and #2, of Global Electric Communications, were installing a new three-phase run of wire in an energized 480-volt panel at a cabinet shop in Kent, WA. Employee #1 was trying to bolt a bracket to the panel's busbar when an electric arc occurred. He sustained thermal burns and was taken to Harborview Burn Center in Seattle, WA. Employee #2 was trying to show the owner of the cabinet shop what had happened to Employee #1 when another electric arc occurred. He also suffered thermal burns and was transported to the same hospital as Employee #1. The arc that burned Employee #1 was caused by a high fault current created by the bracket, of which Employee #1 had lost control. The bracket became energized and contacted another phase in the circuit breaker. Employee #2 thought the panel had been de-energized by the circuit protection at the source.

Keywords: BURN, ELECTRIC ARC, INSTALLING, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, ELEC CIRC PART--MISC, ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR, ELECTRICAL BOX, ELECTRICAL FAULT

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Other building		Other		Under $50,000	1

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	307197145			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
2	307197145			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported

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