Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310490867 - Anodizing Industries Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on February 27, 2008, Employee #1 was analyzing and servicing an electrical service disconnect in the attempt to determine the cause of a machine failure. A witness reported that an air scrubber would not start. The employee began analyzing the air scrubber by checking the electrical service to the air scrubber with a digital multi-meter. He turned off the electrical power to the air scrubbed at the electrical service disconnect and found that one of the 30 amp fuses on the three phase 480 volt service was in an open circuit condition (blown). He had replaced that fuse about two weeks prior and decided to check the service disconnect further. He checked the torque on the phase connection screws with a standard screwdriver. The employee checked one of the energized line phase connection screws without a problem, while he was checking another screw an electrical flash fire occurred. Employee #1 suffered second and third degree burns to his left hand, arm and face, and was hospitalized for more than ten days. The employee was not working with/in close proximity to any other employees, so there were no witnesses. The investigation concluded that the injured employee was working on an energized electrical system without the proper tools or personal protective equipment. As a result, the Division issued a serious accident related citation for T8 CCR 2320.2(a)(3).

Keywords: BURN, ELECTRICAL, PPE, FIRE, ARM, FACE, HAND