105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14444996

BURN,ELECTRIC ARC,E GI IV,ELECTRICAL,SWITCHBOARD,ELECTRICIAN,ELECTRICAL WORK,LOCKOUT,ELECTRICAL FAULT,SMOKE INHALATION

Event
BURN,ELECTRIC ARC,E GI IV,ELECTRICAL,SWITCHBOARD,ELECTRICIAN,ELECTRICAL WORK,LOCKOUT,ELECTRICAL FAULT,SMOKE INHALATION
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14444996
Report ID
355111

Event description

BURN - ELECTRICAL FAULT IN SWITCHBOARD

Investigation abstract

Four electricians and one apprentice were installing a circuit breaker (Westingh ouse SPB 100 Systems Pow-R-Breaker) into a dead-front switchboard (Westinghouse Pow-R-Gear Model No. 917517) located in the subbasement of a hospital. The circu it breaker created an electrical fault when it contacted the energized bus at th e rear of the switchboard. The ensuing electric arc started a fire. Employees #1 and #2 sustained first degree burns on their faces and arms and suffered from s moke inhalation. Employees #3, #4, and #5 suffered from smoke inhalation. All fi ve employees were hospitalized for their injuries.

Victims (5)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 32 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    9
    Event type
    1
    Source
    15
    Occupation code
    575
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    11
    Task assigned
    1
  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 37 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    9
    Event type
    1
    Source
    15
    Occupation code
    575
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    11
    Task assigned
    1
  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 23 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    15
    Occupation code
    576
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1
  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 37 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    15
    Occupation code
    575
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1
  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 52 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    15
    Occupation code
    575
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

Codes shown verbatim from OSHA's accident-investigation database. A human-readable decoder is coming in a future release once the accident_lookup2 dictionary is loaded.