OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14308001
MACHINE TECHNOLOGY INC.
WHIPPANY, NJ·
Event description
ELECTRIC SHOCK - CONTACT WITH ENERGIZED PARTS THRU PLIERS
Investigation abstract
A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TEST TECHNICIAN WAS HELPING TO RELOCATE A FOUR SECTIO 20-AMPERE SWITCH, WHICH CONTROLLED THE OVERHEAD FLUORESCENT ROOM LIGHTS, WAS NO T DEENERGIZED. THE TECHNICIAN CONTACTED ONE OF THE ENERGIZED LIGHTING CONDUCTORS WITH A CONVENTIONAL SET OF PLIERS WHILE HE WAS HOLDING ONTO THE 2-INCH-BY-8-FOO T METAL STUD THAT WAS SUPPORTING THE ELECTRICAL BOX AND THE METAL CLAD CABLE CON TAINING THE LIGHTING CONDUCTORS. THE EMPLOYEE WAS ELECTROCUTED AND WAS PRONOUNCE D DEAD ON ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL. THE POINTS OF ENTRY AND EXIT FOR THE ELECTRIC CURRENT WERE HIS RIGHT HAND, AT A POINT BETWEEN THE THUMB AND FIRST FINGER, AND THE PALM OF HIS LEFT HAND. N PARTITION WALL WITHIN A CLEAN ROOM FOR HIS EMPLOYER'S ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE EMPLOYEE HAD 3 YEARS' EXPERIENCE AS A TEST TECHNICIAN. THE PARTITION WALL WA S BEING MOVED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE WITHIN THE 32-FOOT-BY-17.5-FOO T CLEAN ROOM. THREE OF THE FOUR 4-FOOT-BY-8-FOOT SECTIONS HAD BEEN REMOVED AND R EINSTALLED IN A POSITION THAT WAS ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY FROM THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION . THE TEST TECHNICIAN AND THE BUILDING CUSTODIAN, WHO WAS HELPING HIM, HAD SOME DIFFICULTY MOVING THE SECTIONS. THE TECHNICIAN THEN REMOVED A COVER PLATE AND A TWO-POLE ELECTRIC SWITCH FROM A 3-INCH-BY-4-INCH METAL SWITCH BOX. THE 277-VOLT,
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 25 M
- Nature of injury
- Electric Shock (10)
- Part of body
- HAND(S) (12)
- Accident type
- SHOCK (13)
- Source of injury
- ELEC APPARAT/WIRING (15)
- Occupation
- Engineering technicians, n.e.c. (216)
- Human factor
- MISJUDGMENT, HAZ. SITUATION (1)
- Environmental factor
- MATERIALS HANDLG EQUIP./METHOD (8)
- Task assigned
- Task not regularly assigned (2)
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