Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313380412 - Josephs Electric Service

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:00 a.m. on January 27, 2010, Employee #1, an electrician and the sole owner of an electrical and air conditioning service contractor, was replacing a circuit breaker to restore power to a transformer. He had performed this type of work on numerous occasions and did not believe that it was necessary to turn off the electrical power to the circuit breaker. Employee #1 removed the cover of the electrical panel containing the circuit breaker to be replaced. A piece of metal approximately six in. long fell into the energized electrical panel, causing a short circuit. An arc flash occurred and Employee #1's long sleeve cotton shirt ignited. Coworkers heard the explosion and came to his aid, but they did not witness the accident. He was hospitalized at Los Angeles County/ USC Medical Center for second- and third-degree burns to his arms, hands, chest and face, which required numerous skin grafts.

Keywords: BURN, CHEST, CLOTHING, INSTALLING, ELECTRICIAN, LOCKOUT, CIRCUIT BREAKER, ELECTRIC SHOCK, ELECTRICAL CABINET, FACE