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Inspection Detail

Inspection: 977249 - Airco Carbon Div Of Boc Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Buffalo
Nr: 977249Report ID: 0213600Open Date: 07/25/1984
Airco Carbon Div Of Boc Inc
4861 Packard Rd
Niagara Falls, NY 14302 		Union Status: Union
SIC: 3624/Carbon and Graphite Products
Inspection Type:Referral
Scope:Partial Advanced Notice:N
Ownership:Private
Safety/Health:Safety Close Conference:09/07/1984
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing Close Case:09/07/1984
Related Activity:TypeIDSafetyHealth
 Referral900521279 Yes  

Accident Investigation Summary
Summary Nr: 14484729Event: 07/23/1984Flash Burns From Electrical Short
EMPLOYEES IN MAIN CONTROL ROOM WERE ENGAGED IN BALANCING THE PLANT'S ELECTRICAL LOAD. THIS WORK IS NORMALLY DONE BY ONE PERSON. THE PROCEDURES ARE TO REDUCE THE LOAD ON A PANEL; ELECTRICALLY TRIP THE CIRCUIT BREAKER; AND ACTIVATE THE KIRK INTERLOCK BY OPENING THE LOWER CUBICAL DOOR, PUSHING IN THE LOCK RING AND REMOVING THE KEY. ACTIVATING THE KIRK INTERLOCK MANUALLY TRIPS THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, IF FOR SOME REASON IT HAD NOT ELECTRICALLY TRIPPED OUT, AND THEN IT MECHANICALLY PREVENTS ANY FURTHER ELECTRICAL ACTIVATION OF THE BREAKER. THE KEY IS THEN PUT INTO THE LOCK ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE UPPER PANEL TO UNLOCK THE MANUALLY OPERATED PHASE CHANGE SWITCH IN A NO LOAD CONDITION. IT WAS DURING THIS PHASE CHANGE THAT THE ARC OCCURRED FROM THE 12,500-VOLT POWER SUPPLY LINE. BOTH EMPLOYEES WERE BURNED BY THE FLASH THAT CAME THROUGH EQUIPMENT OPENINGS IN THE PANEL. IT WAS DETERMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THE KIRK INTERLOCK WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY ADJUSTED.
Keywords: burn, electric arc, interlock, circuit breaker
Inspection Degree Nature Occupation
1 977249 Hospitalized injury Burn/Scald(Heat) Power plant operators
2 977249 Hospitalized injury Burn/Scald(Heat) Power plant operators

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