Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120147764 - Alsco-Geyer

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On May 5, 2002, Employee #1 was installing an Intermatic 24 hour Dial Time Switch (Model Number T103, 110-125 Volts). The installation was done with the system energized. He was installing the timer with the power on, 480 volts. He closed the breaker in the metal electrical box, and pulled power from the top of the breaker, which was energized. He connected the #1 and #2 wires from the timer to the starter and connected the #1 wire from the timer to the power lead. When he connected wire #2 from the timer to the power lead, there was an arch and a flash. The energized leads of #1 and #2 touched by way of the tool or lead wire and they arched, resulting in a flash and fire. The employee received second and third degree burns to his face arms and hands. He drove himself to a public telephone at a hunting club and waited for an ambulance. He was taken to UC Davis Burn Center in Sacramento, California. Employee #1 was hospitalized for more than seven days. The arch occurred at the live part of the breaker (the top), and not at the timer that he was installing. This would indicate that the energized leads of #1 and #2 touched by way of the tool or lead wire. A contributing factor to the accident was the failure of the employer to properly train the employee on his job duties as an electrician. The employee was using the wrong timer for the job, wrong tools, and pulled wire from the wrong place. The wire was connected to the energized side of the breaker and it should have been taken from the un- energized side of the breaker. NOTE: Event date in narrative is May 5, 2002 but the event date in IMIS summary is May 2, 2002.

Keywords: BURN, FIRE, ARM, FACE, UNTRAINED, HAND