Arc Flash & Electrical Safety News

Friday, February 05, 2010

Video - Arc Flash At MobilExxon In Texas

This video shows the arc flash that occurred at one of the MobilExxon facilities in Beaumont, Texas not long ago.

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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Water Plant Employee Suffers Burn Injury

The Roanoke Times reported on Tuesday: "A Western Virginia Water Authority worker was injured Sunday night at the Roanoke Regional Water Pollution Control Plant in Southeast Roanoke. An electrical arc flash-burned the man's hand and forearm about 9:30 p.m. Sunday while he tended to a medium-voltage electrical panel, said Sarah Baumgardner, the authority's spokeswoman"

Thinking back over the past year it seems that arc flash accidents rarely make the news. The danger of arc flash can easily be forgotten, and replaced by assumptions and shortcuts. Arc flash can happen in seemingly a random manner... it may be years before one happens in your facility. Or it could be in just a few minutes. You never know when an arc flash will happen. Don't get complacent. Never relax your safety vigilance.

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Thursday, December 03, 2009

New York Personal Injury Attorney Says That Electrocution Is A Serious Risk for Workers

The following is from a press release and provides one law firm's view on electrical injuries. Some of the stronger "sales pitch" language has been edited out.

According to New York Injury Law Firm George W. Ilchert, Esq., a partner with Lurie, Ilchert, Mac Donnell and Ryan, LLP, a recent study conducted by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has shown that one person dies each workday as a result of an electric accident.

"Whether it is an electrocution, shock, arc flash, arc blast, or other electricity-related accident, emergency rooms across the United States treat nearly 8,000 victims each year, many of whom are injured on the job," says Ilchert. "No matter what the industry, electricity is always present in the workplace and although government regulated safety standards exist, accidents still happen even when safety procedures and guidelines are followed."

Ilchert notes that while the NFPA's standards for workplace safety have created a safer working environment for America's workers, including the mandate that electrical equipment be de-energized prior to being worked with, he and the staff at the Lurie Law Firm have become all too familiar with on-the-job electrical accidents in which clients have suffered serious injury by coming in contact with live electrical currents.

Ilchert stated, "The injuries that we see among our clients are typically quite severe and, at times, a work-related electrical accident can even result in death," says Ilchert. "The more serious injuries often require an immense amount of medical treatment and cause lifestyle changes that prevent victims from returning to work, sometimes indefinitely."

According to Ilchert, the lawyers from his firm, like any reputable NY accident lawyer, seek to recover the necessary compensation for the pain, suffering, loss of income, or medical treatments that their clients deserve as a result of an electrical work-related injury. The Lurie Law firm lists the most common work-related electrical injuries as electrocution, electric shock, and burns.

"A quality personal injury lawyer will use a team of experts to determine what, if any, compensation an accident victim deserves," says Ilchert, "and to ensure that anyone responsible is held accountable.

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Arc Flash In J.C. Penny Store Store Injures Electrician

It's not just industrial workplaces that present arc flash hazards. Here's a report from Mass Live (Springfield Republican):

"An electrical explosion Wednesday morning at the J.C. Penney store on Boston Road sent an electrician, a 35-year-old Chicopee man, to Baystate Medical Center with for treatment of burns to his face."

Read the complete story.

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OSHA Proposes $88,200 In Fines For Arc Flash Injury

OSHA has cited O'Connell Electric Co. Inc. of Victor, N.Y., for 14 alleged serious violations of safety standards after a company employee was burned in a May 18 electrical arc flash on the North Campus of the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo. The electrical contractor faces a total of $88,200 in proposed fines.

The incident occurred as O'Connell employees were performing maintenance on 34,500 volt electrical switches and transformers in the basement of Baldy Hall. OSHA's inspection found that one of the switches had not first been de-energized, as required, before employees began their work, nor had the switches been properly barricaded and tagged to prevent exposure to live electrical parts.

OSHA also determined that the injured worker and other employees had not been adequately informed about and supplied with adequate personal protective clothing. In addition, they had not been adequately trained in electrical safe work practices and in proper hazardous energy control procedures.

"This is a clear example of the grave consequences that can result when basic electrical safeguards are not provided and used," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "Electricity can injure and kill almost instantly, which makes it vital that power sources be de-energized and locked out, and workers be properly trained and equipped before electrical work is performed."

OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

"One means of preventing hazardous conditions and the accidents that can result from them is to establish an effective safety and health management system through which employers and employees work together to proactively evaluate, identify and eliminate hazards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

O'Connell Electric has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Buffalo Area Office; telephone 716-551-3053.

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Tuesday, August 04, 2009

OSHA Cites MillerCoors in Golden, CO For Arc Flash Injuries

OSHA has cited MillerCoors LLC in Golden, Colo., with 10 alleged safety and health violations from two investigations involving the death of one and the injury of two workers.

OSHA launched an investigation into the company's safety and health practices following the death of an employee at the brewery Feb. 2. A second investigation opened following an accident April 9 in which two employees were injured.

Together, the investigations disclosed one alleged willful and nine alleged serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act's regulations governing electrical hazards. OSHA alleges that workplace conditions contributed to two employees being burned by an electrical arc flash April 9. Furthermore, agency officials allege that inadequate safety measures were in place to protect against electrical hazards at the time of the Feb. 2 accident; however, the Jefferson County coroner's office could not determine if those conditions contributed to the final cause of death.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the worker who died as well as the two injured workers," said Greg Baxter, OSHA's regional administrator in Denver. "At the time of both accidents, the company's procedures for dealing with electrical hazards were inadequate. MillerCoors needs to take the necessary steps to eliminate electrical hazards in its workplaces."

The alleged willful violation stems from the company's failure to ensure the use of appropriate electrical protective equipment when employees were working on or near energized electrical parts. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

The serious violations relate to inadequate safe work practices and failure to ensure adequate personal protective equipment was available and used by employees working on or near energized equipment. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which an employer knew or should have known.

OSHA proposes $128,500 in penalties against the company for the alleged violations.

MillerCoors has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Englewood, Colo., or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Related Past Posts
OSHA Citation For Failure To Abate Safety Violations
OSHA Reopens Record on Proposed Rule On Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission
Is Your Electrical PPE Adequate?

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Wednesday, April 08, 2009

OSHA Citations Issued For Failure To Abate Electrical Safety Violations

OSHA cites Houston-based manufacturing company for failing to abate safety violations
Initial inspection followed electrocution death of a worker.

OSHA has issued failure-to-abate citations to JD Manufacturing Inc., doing business as Arrow Waste, in Houston for a follow-up inspection that revealed previous violations had not been abated.

The initial inspection on Jan. 29, 2008, at the company's facility on 11401 Brooklyn St. in Houston, followed the electrocution death of a worker. Upon re-inspection on Oct. 9, 2008, OSHA's investigation found that the six violations, four alleged serious and two alleged other-than-serious, originally cited were not corrected by the company.

"The employer completely ignored abating the violations while continuing to expose employees to a hazardous working environment. That kind of practice will not be tolerated," said Dean McDaniel, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "OSHA standards must be followed to prevent injuries and fatalities."

The serious failure-to-abate violations include failing to have a written program for the control of hazardous energy, not installing the required wiring in accordance with OSHA regulations and failing to adequately mark branch circuits to indicate their purpose. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The other-than-serious violations the company failed to correct are not having a hazard communications program in place and not maintaining the required recordkeeping. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

The initial inspection carried proposed penalties totaling $25,500. The re-inspection carries $108,000 in proposed penalties.

JD Manufacturing, a manufacturing and repair facility for mechanized equipment and roll-off containers such as dumpsters or debris containers, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Houston North area director or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Houston North Area Office at 281-591-2438 or OSHA's toll-free hotline number at 800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Daredevil Electricians of Pakistan

A post on the "All Things Pakistan" blog caught my attention. It has a lot of pictures, as well as commentary, about the lack of safety during utility wire maintenance and repairs. One of the introductory paragraphs states:

"The daredevil mentality persists where Electricians over look safety measures thinking they know it all. They think if nothing has happened to them in all these years, then nothing will happen to them in the future because of their experience. Sometimes they even think it is below their macho image to wear protective equipment. It is true that these electricians may have knowledge of basic rules of electricity and physics but mistakes and accidents do happen and in such circumstances, I believe these guys and our utility companies (WAPDA and KESC) are very ill prepared."

Take a look. Here is the link: Daredevil Electricians

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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

OSHA Cites DCS Sanitation Management Inc. Following Electrocution Death

The following is a press release from OSHA dated April 14, 2008.

OSHA cites DCS Sanitation Management Inc. for multiple safety and health violations following an electrocution death.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited DCS Sanitation Management Inc. for 10 alleged violations of federal safety and health standards following the Oct. 12, 2007, death of an employee at a Springfield, Mo., poultry processing facility.

An employee of Cincinnati, Ohio-based DCS Sanitation Management, working to sanitize poultry processing equipment, was electrocuted when the equipment's conductive surface became energized.

"Our inspection revealed multiple violations of OSHA's electrical standards," said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City. "It is imperative that employers remain committed to keeping the workplace safe at all times."

An alleged willful violation addresses hazards associated with the company's failure to ensure employees are removed from equipment hazard areas, all tools are removed, and equipment is operationally intact prior to its release from lockout/tagout safeguards and employee use. Lockout/tagout refers to preventing accidental start-up of machinery during maintenance. Willful violations are those committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

An alleged repeat violation addresses a hazard associated with the lack of suitable facilities for quick drenching and/or flushing of the eyes and body in the event of an emergency when employees were working with injurious corrosives. Repeat violations are issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same, or a substantially similar, violation that has become a final order.

Alleged serious violations address the following hazards: failure to ensure electrical equipment was free from recognized hazards; failure to ensure the means of grounding machines and equipment was continuous and effective; enclosures for electrical components in wet environments that were not waterproof; failure to provide all flexible cords with a strain relief; failure to provide a standard guardrail system for every floor opening or platform above dangerous equipment; failure to provide and/or require the use of appropriate eye and face protective equipment; and allowing the consumption of food and beverages in areas exposed to toxic chemicals.

An other-than-serious violation addresses the employer's failure to report the fatal accident to the nearest OSHA area office within the required eight hours of occurrence. The agency's proposed penalties for all violations total $124,500.

DCS Sanitation Management Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

University Employees Injured By Arc Flash

The Texas Christian University Daily Skiff (the student newspaper) reports in today's edition that two university employees were injured by an arc flash. The article reports that:

"Two physical plant employees were injured Wednesday morning in an electrical accident in the basement of Tandy Hall, university officials said."

"One employee who suffered injuries to his eyes and forearm was still in the hospital late Wednesday, and the other, who injured his knee while moving to avoid the shock, was treated and released, said Tracy Syler-Jones, associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication."

There had been a power outage and the two employees were working to start a backup generator. This incident should make us aware that we must always be alert to the possibility of an arc flash when working with electrical equipment. My guess is that the two workers who were injured never even considered the possibility of an arc flash. Training, proper labeling, and the use of PPE are three pillars that can not be ignored or forgotten.

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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Contractors Cited by OSHA Following Electrocution Death At Maine Jobsite

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited two contractors - J&S Carpentry of Columbia, Maine, and Irving Equipment Inc. of Hampton, N.H. - for 15 alleged violations of safety standards following the electrocution death of an employee at a Hermon, Maine, residential construction site.

On Sept. 12, 2007, an Irving crane contacted an energized 7,200 volt overhead power line as two J&S Carpentry employees were attempting to attach the crane's rigging equipment to a section of a modular home that was being constructed at 28 Lily Lane in Hermon. One of the employees was killed and the other seriously injured by the electric current.

OSHA's inspection found that the crane was being operated within 10 feet of the power line, which had not been de-energized beforehand, as required. The two contractors face a combined total of $121,500 in proposed fines.

"The basic safeguards designed to prevent just this sort of accident were ignored here, with fatal results," said William Coffin, OSHA's area director for Maine. "De-energizing the power line and maintaining a safe working distance from it would have prevented this death and injury."

J&S Carpentry, for whom the employees worked, was issued two willful citations for allowing employees to work in close proximity to the energized power line and for not protecting employees against fall hazards. OSHA also issued the company four serious citations for a lack of on-site medical attention; absence of hardhats and electrical warning signs; and ladder hazards. J&S Carpentry faces a total of $32,000 in proposed fines for these conditions.

Irving Equipment, which owned and operated the crane, has been issued three repeat citations for operating the crane in high winds, inadequate support for the crane's outriggers, and not inspecting the job site to identify and correct these and other hazards. OSHA had cited the company in May 2005 for similar hazards at a Freeport, Maine, job site.

Irving Equipment also has been issued six serious citations for operating the crane within 10 feet of the power line; not operating the crane in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and industry standards; and lack of fall protection, hardhats, on-site medical attention and an electrical warning sign. Irving Equipment faces a total of $89,500 in proposed fines for these conditions.

OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Each company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Bangor District Office.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

WE Energies To Pay Damages In Plant Accident

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports today on the court judgment resulting from an arc flash injury at the Patrick Cudahy meat packing plant.

The article reports that Neil Wolf was injured by an arc flash on May 26, 2003, at the Patrick Cudahy plant. The jury awarded $515,000 to Mr. Wolf.

WE Energies, the local power company, was found to be 37% negligent and will have to pay $190,550 of the award.

Patrick Cudahy was found to be 55% responsible. But because Patrick Cudahy was a plaintiff, not a defendant in this case, they will not need to pay any of the jury award.

Mr. Wolf was found to be 10% responsible.

You can read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article at: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=727274

OSHA imposed $148,500 in fines in December 2004. The following is what OSHA reported at that time:

"Three workers were reported to have been troubleshooting electrical switchgear at the Cudahy, Wis., facility when electricity arched and exploded. OSHA's investigation revealed that the three workers, all of whom received first, second and third degree burns throughout their bodies, were not using insulated tools, were not wearing proper personal protective equipment, and were not following appropriate safety standards. OSHA issued willful and serious violations to Cudahy for allegedly failing to provide such equipment, and warning or training the workers about flash hazards."

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Friday, November 09, 2007

House Moving Company Fined

The Medford Oregon Mail Tribune reported yesterday that: "The owner of a house moving company has been fined $18,000 for safety violations after an employee suffered life-threatening injuries from high-voltage power lines."

On June 6th Ken Olmstead was riding on the roof of a house that was being moved. His job was to lift up energized power lines so the house could pass under them. While lifting an uninsulated power line the D-ring on the back of his harness contacted the power line and created an "arc flash".

Read the complete story at: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071108/NEWS/711080327

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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

OSHA Announced Two New Online Tools For Electrical Contractors

The following is a press release issued today by OSHA. You'll find the online tools discussed in this press release at: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/electricalcontractors/index.html

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today added two new modules to the Agency's "Ergonomics Solutions for Electrical Contractors" e-Tool. The modules, developed with input from the Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. (IEC), as part of the OSHA and IEC Alliance, include safety and health information for Installation and Repair, and Prefabrication processes.

"Employees in the electrical contracting industry have benefited greatly from information in our Ergonomics Solutions e-Tool," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "The new modules are another proactive effort to educate employees on how to improve safety and health in the workplace."

The e-Tool offers potential solutions to ergonomic hazards that electrical contractors may encounter. The Installation and Repair module describes hazards encountered by employees who often dig trenches and pull and feed wire. It includes information on potential tendon and nerve problems that may result from using hand tools such as pliers, crimpers, and side cutters. Further, the module provides solutions to help industry professionals reduce the risks associated with electrical installation and repair.

The Prefabrication module discusses ergonomics-related hazards including heavy manual lifting, repetitive movements, and awkward or stationary positions. It lists possible solutions to reduce these hazards as they relate to various activities such as bending conduit, cutting and spooling wire, and welding and assembly tasks.

E-Tools are "stand-alone," interactive, web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. They utilize illustrations, graphical menus, and expert system modules, which enable the user to answer questions, and receive reliable advice on how OSHA regulations apply to their work site.

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Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Regulating Arc Flash Hazards

An article in the May 2007 issue of Occupational Hazards magazine digs into OSHA's proposed rules to reduce electrical burn injuries, and raises several serious questions about the effectiveness of these rules. The article states:

"There are several problems, however, with the proposed rules. First, the proposed rules do not clearly define the obligations of an employer. Second, electrical arcs are unpredictable and the methods for calculating the maximum available heat energy to which an employee may be exposed are extremely unreliable at high voltages. Third, even if employers could calculate the actual maximum available heat energy and put their employees in the appropriate arc-rated clothing, there is still a 50 percent chance than an employee could sustain a second-degree burn. Finally, attempting to comply with the proposed rules may cause the same injuries that the proposed rules are designed to prevent in the first place."

The article addresses each of these points.

Occupational Hazards Magazine does not make it easy to link to their articles. Use this link http://occupationalhazards.texterity.com/occupationalhazards/200705/?u1=texterity to go to the May 2007 issue. Then at the top of the page, use the "Page" box to select page 41. As you finish reading each page you'll need to use the "Page" box to select the next page.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Medical Treatment - Electrical and Arc Flash Burns

Detailed medical information about electrical and arc flash burns, including descriptions and treatment information, is available on the eMedicine web site.

Authored by Elizabeth A Liotta, MD and Dana Borgeson, DO, this article provides medical information for doctors and others who are involved in the treatment of electrical burns. This is not a first aid article, but a detailed medical treatment article. It covers everything from a description of electrical injuries to medical and surgical care.

The following is an example from the Medical Care section:

"Life-saving measures should be continued at a medical center at which patients with multiple trauma can be treated most appropriately. Optimally, the center should have an adequate burn unit or the ability to treat patients with burns. Secondary assessments are performed here as well.

* With at least 2 large-bore intravenous lines and a Foley catheter in place, parenteral fluid therapy should be administered to maintain a urine output of at least 0.5-1.0 mL/kg/h. However, if heme is present in the urine, urine output of 1.0-1.5 mL/kg/h should be maintained.

o The rule of nines for fluid resuscitation generally causes underestimation of the fluid requirements in patients with electrical burns (as opposed to those with only typical thermal burns). The reason is because of the higher likelihood of a significant or deep injury with electrical burns (Kennedy, 1998).

o Two caveats to this fluid-management regimen bear consideration: (1) In patients with head injuries, parenteral fluids may need to be relatively restricted, or adjunctive therapy may be required to prevent cerebral edema. (2) In preadolescents, fluid requirements may need to be adjusted on the basis of their body surface area or an age-specific diagram (Sheridan, 2001)."

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Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Two Injured In Arc Flash Accident at Alcoa

The Quad-Cities Online (Iowa) reports today that two contractor employees at the Alcoa Davenport Works were injured by an arc flash incident yesterday. The article reports:

"Alcoa spokesman John Riches said the two contractors were doing routine maintenance on a high-voltage electrical substation just outside the Riverdale plant. He said one person sustained severe electrical burns when he or she became grounded, creating an arc flash at about 1:30 p.m."

"A second contractor who was some distance away from the first also was burned but not as badly, according to Mr. Riches. The second contractor was transported by ambulance to a local hospital."

You can read the complete story at: http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=337424

It is interesting to read the public comments that are attached to this article. They provide a different perspective showing a small part of how industrial safety is perceived by the public.

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Thursday, May 03, 2007

Rochester Public Utilities Worker Burned in Arc Flash Accident

The Rochester, Minnesota Post-Bulletin reported yesterday that a lineman for Rochester Public Utilities was burned by an arc flash. The newspaper reported that:

"The man, one of about 20 line workers for the utility, was injured at a transformer while extending power to a construction site in the 500 block of Third Avenue Southeast, just south of the downtown area, Benson said. The injured worker's name is not yet being released by RPU officials."

"Benson said the lineman suffered 'arc flash burns,' and was burned on his arms, stomach and face."

The lineman was wearing PPE including a flame retardant shirt, gloves, safety vest, glasses and a hard hat.

Read the complete article.

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Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Construction Industry - Protection from Electric Shock and Arc Flash

The Center to Protect Workers' Rights has written a paper that is available on the CDC eLCOSH website. The paper discusses arc flash hazards in the construction industry. The opening paragraph introduces the subject of the paper.

"About 50 electrical workers are killed in construction every year in the U.S. by electric current and many more are injured. Over half of the deaths are from working on energized ('live') electric circuits without proper protection - often when it was not necessary to work 'live.' At least one-third of the electrocutions occur at low voltage, under 600 volts. This paper discusses precautions for electricians, but does not cover electric utility work."

This paper provides detailed information for electricians and supervisors, covering topics such as: "To De-Energize or Not to De-Energize". In the introduction to this section the paper states:

"The most important principle of electric safety is, assume electric circuits are energized unless you make sure they are not. Test every circuit and conductor every time you work on them."

A major portion of this "De-Energize" section discusses lockout/tagout and how an effective and safe lockout/tagout systems should work.

In the "Not to De-Engergize" section the paper discusses the precautions and proceedures that should be used when working on live equipment. It defines approach boundaries and describes the use of PPE (personal protective equipment).

Detailed tables providing specific risk categories for various types of live work are provided at the end of the paper.

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Friday, April 20, 2007

Electrical Burn Photos

A significant percent of electrical injuries happen because a worker took a short cut or ignored safety procedures. Because they did not recognize the severity of the hazard, they thought they could "get away" with not fully complying with all requirements.

OSHA has published a set of photographs you can use to help your employees, vendors and contractors recognize the danger of electrical burns. These are not pleasant pictures to see, but they get the point across... don't take shortcuts when it comes to electrical safety.

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