OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14500300

E GI V,ELECTRICAL,ELECTROCUTED,GROUND FAULT,WET OPERATION,EQUIPMENT GROUNDING,ELEC EQUIPMENT--MISC

1988-06-15T00:00:00

Event: E GI V,ELECTRICAL,ELECTROCUTED,GROUND FAULT,WET OPERATION,EQUIPMENT GROUNDING,ELEC EQUIPMENT--MISC
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14500300
Report ID: 523400

Event description

ELECTRIC SHOCK - GROUND FAULT IN ELECTROPLATING TANK

Investigation abstract

AN EMPLOYEE WAS USING A STRIPPING TANK TO REMOVE CHROME PLATING FROM AUTOMOBILE OUND FAULT OCCURRED. BUMPERS. THE TANK WAS A NORMAL PLATING TANK WITH THE POLARITIES REVERSED. INSIDE THE RECTIFIER FOR THE TANK, A 240-VOLT AC POWER SUPPLY CONDUCTOR WAS MAKING INT ERMITTENT CONTACT WITH THE RECTIFIER FRAME, REPEATEDLY CREATING A GROUND FAULT. THIS ENERGIZED THE RECTIFIER OUTPUT, THE ELECTRODES, AND THE STRIPPING TANK AT L INE VOLTAGE. WHEN THE EMPLOYEE PLACED A BUMPER IN THE TANK, HE COMPLETED THE CIR CUIT TO GROUND THROUGH THE METAL PLATFORM ON WHICH HE WAS STANDING AND WAS ELECT ROCUTED. THE STRIPPING TANK HAD BEEN DELIBERATELY INSULATED FROM THE WET FLOOR T O PREVENT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FROM OPERATING TO OPEN THE CIRCUIT WHENEVER THE GR

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 42 M

Nature of injury
10

Part of body
4

Event type
13

Source
46

Occupation code
999

Human factor
9

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1

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