OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #567008

DUCT,ELECTRICAL,ELECTRIC CABLE,E GI VII,ELECTROCUTED,GROUND FAULT

1989-10-13T00:00:00

Event: DUCT,ELECTRICAL,ELECTRIC CABLE,E GI VII,ELECTROCUTED,GROUND FAULT
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 567008
Report ID: 636900

Event description

ELECTRIC SHOCK - GROUND FAULT IN CABLE

Investigation abstract

AN EMPLOYEE HAD BEEN HIRED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS TO HELP A PLUMBER WITH TWO HOUSE N GOOD CONDITION. THE PLUMBER HAD NOTICED A 240-VOLT LINE IN FLEXIBLE METAL COND UIT AND A 120-VOLT JUNCTION BOX. HE HAD TOLD HIS HELPER TO AVOID THEM. OSHA WAS NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL 6 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND BY THAT TIME THE SITE HAD BEE N ALTERED. HOWEVER, THE HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAD AN ELECTRICIAN INSPECT THE PROPERTY. THE ELECTRICIAN HAD FOUND AN ARMORED CABLE (SUPPLYING A FLOODLIGH T) IN THE ATTIC. THE CABLE HAD FAULTED TO AN OLD FURNACE VENT PIPE. THE ENERGIZE D VENT PIPE EXTENDED DOWN THROUGH THE HOUSE TO THE CRAWL SPACE WHERE THE TWO EMP LOYEES HAD BEEN WORKING. THE ELECTRICIAN IDENTIFIED THIS VENT PIPE AS THE ONLY U NINSULATED SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY. HE THEORIZED THAT THE HELPER HAD TOUCHED IT EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH A PIECE OF COPPER PIPE HE WAS CLUTCHING WHEN HE W S. HE PERFORMED LABOR-ORIENTED TASKS, SUCH AS CUTTING PIPE AND DIGGING DITCHES. AS FOUND. THE ARMORED CABLE, WHICH HAD HAD A HOLE BURNED THROUGH ITS ARMORED SHE ATH AND INNER INSULATION, WAS REPLACED. ON HIS SECOND DAY, THE PLUMBER AND HIS HELPER WERE WORKING UNDER ONE OF THE HOUS ES. THE PLUMBER WENT TO HIS TRUCK; AND, WHEN HE RETURNED ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, H E FOUND HIS HELPER UNCONSCIOUS. HE COULD NOT REVIVE THE INJURED EMPLOYEE, WHO WA S PRONOUNCED DEAD 2 HOURS LATER. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FOUND EVIDENCE OF ELECTRIC SHOCK AND RULED THE DEATH AN ELECTROCUTION. THE ONLY ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT IN USE HAD BEEN A UTILITY LAMP AND A 2-CONDUCTOR EXTENSION CORD SET. THE MEDIUM-DUTY TY PE SJT EXTENSION CORD SET HAD A REPLACEMENT CORD CONNECTOR, BUT WAS APPARENTLY I

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 39 M

Nature of injury
10

Part of body
4

Event type
13

Source
15

Occupation code
865

Human factor
14

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
2

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