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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 307170068 - Pouk & Steinle
Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office
Site Address:
Pouk & Steinle
3140 Foothill Blvd
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Mailing Address:
2520 Rubidoux Blvd, Riverside, CA 92519
Union Status: Union
SIC:4911
NAICS: 221121/Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 10/24/2006
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 08/27/2008
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 102468378 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | ||||||
| Initial Penalty | $22,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22,500 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 2943 E02 | 03/20/2007 | 03/30/2007 | $0 | $22,500 | $0 | 03/29/2007 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
Investigation Summary
On October 18, 2006, a crew from Pouk & Steinle, Inc., a licensed utility construction contractor that was subcontracting for Southern California Edison Company, was dispatched for emergency repair. Upon arrival at the job site, the crew entered an underground vault to replace three "UG" transformers. After successful change out of the transformers, the crew foreman determined the need to remove the elbows on the J-bar, so that the crew could insulate the cable and find out why the cable was failing. The crew foreman directed Employee #1 to extract the elbows from the J-bar, using a hot stick, and the elbows were found to be in good condition. Employee #1 then used the hot stick, in an attempt to reinstall the elbows back to the J-bar. On his first attempt, the elbow blew up (i.e., an arc flash occurred), causing burns to Employee #1's head, hands, and neck. Employee #1 was determined to be the only crew member injured as a result of the explosion. Employee #1 was initially taken to Verdugo Hills Hospital, but paramedics later transferred him to Sherman Oaks Burn Center, where he was admitted for days (not specified). The Division determined that the accident was caused by Employee #1 attempting to reinstall an energized, nonload-break elbow to the J-bar. The crew mistook the nonload-break elbow for a load-break elbow, which could be disconnected or operated while energized, assuming all other safety precautions were taken. A serious citation was issued to the employer for failing to ensure that only permitted work be performed while employees were in the underground vault and handling energized cables or equipment in excess of 7,500 volts. The employer was also cited for failing to ensure that work such as removal of energized elbows be performed from outside the vault, so that affected employees could be protected from potential arc flash hazards.
Keywords: BURN, ELECTRIC ARC, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRIC CABLE, ELECTRICAL FAULT, TRANSFORMER
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 307170068 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Electricians |