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 #888685

BURN,ELECTRIC ARC,ELECTRICAL,POWER LINE WORKER,LOCKOUT,E PTD,SUBSTATION,ELEC UTILITY WORK,ELECTRIC SHOCK,ELECTRICAL FAULT

Event
BURN,ELECTRIC ARC,ELECTRICAL,POWER LINE WORKER,LOCKOUT,E PTD,SUBSTATION,ELEC UTILITY WORK,ELECTRIC SHOCK,ELECTRICAL FAULT
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
888685
Report ID
352420

Event description

ELECTRIC SHOCK - CONTACT WITH ENERGIZED PARTS

Investigation abstract

A power line worker with 18 years of experience with an electric utility was a c ting activity and offered his assistance. When the mobile unit was reactivated, a problem arose with the grounding apparatus on the unit. The crew leader climbe d the structure of the unit and apparently slipped. He came too close to an ener gized insulator at the 33-kilovolt end of the unit and caused an electrical faul t. The employee received an electric shock and suffered burns to both arms and t o his left ear from the ensuing electric arc. He was hospitalized for his injuri es and had to undergo mental and physical therapy. The employee did not remember the accident afterwards. rew leader for an electrical construction crew. The crew was installing addition al transformers and a 13-kilovolt feeder at a secured substation. The modificati ons were necessary to upgrade the capacity of the substation because of growth i n the area. During the installation process, the crew used a Westinghouse mobile transformer to meet the demand on the substation. The crew leader was absent fr om the jobsite the morning of the accident. During his absence, problems develop ed with the mobile unit. The problem was handled by distribution personnel withi n the utility company. Upon his return, the crew leader observed the troubleshoo

Victim

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 56 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    14
    Source
    15
    Occupation code
    577
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    13
    Task assigned
    1

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