AGrowStar, LLC, of Fort Valley, GA, was cited by OSHA for 20 serious and 2 other-than-serious violations, with proposed penalties of $74k.  Included was failure to develop and implement lockout/tagout procedures for energy sources, annual training for employees exposed to fire or explosion hazards, securing a permit prior to entering a confined space to perform [...]

OSHA proposed $91k in penalties against Yaskawa America, Inc., of Oak Creek, WI, for allowing a worker to come in contact with exposed and energized parts without the appropriate PPE.   Yaskawa America was cited with 6 safety — including 1 willful – violations, 3 serious safety violations, and 2 other-than-serious violations. The worker received an [...]

A Tasmanian worker controlling the boom from which concrete flows was burned when another portion of the pumping truck came into contact with high-voltage power lines carrying 11,000 volts.  He sufferd entry and exit burns from the shock. Click here to read the article from 3/1/12.

In This Issue Updated 2012 Classes February Survey: HRC2 Hood New Arc Flash Hazard Sign OSHA Fines this Month Burn Up the Myth NEW Garment Requirements in NFPA 70E 2012 Arc Test Dates FR vs. Arc Rated Commitment NFPA 70E Free Webinar ANSI Appoints Golovkov & Hoagland to IEC ERI Safety Videos 2012 NFPA 70E [...]

Citations won’t be filed after two young farm workers were electrocuted while removing tassels from corn in rural northwestern Illinois last summer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced January 25th. The investigation found lightening may have struck the field’s irrigation system. About 72 people working for St. Louis-based Monsanto Corp. were de-tasseling corn when the accident occurred.

So much energy was pulsing through the transmission lines of the electric tower that Blake Hubbard climbed that the teen may not have touched anything before he was shocked and fell.

A report submitted Monday by Duke Energy officials to the state utility commission indicated Blake, 14, could have been shocked because he might have touched a transmission line or because he had climbed too close to the high-voltage equipment, a Duke Energy spokeswoman said Wednesday.

No enforcement action will be forthcoming due to an electrical explosion from a generator that threw a workman to the ground, blinded him in one eye, and required a metal plate in his broken wrist. Click here to follow this article from 1/31.

Two electricians were hurt in an explosion while preparing a job proposal, not realizing that a live wire had energized the power box. Click here to read more on this electrical accident from 1/31.

Two construction workers were injured at an East Texas Power Plant in Nacogdoches on 1/31 when 440 volts arced, causing an explosion.  They had severe electrical burns and were listed in critical condition.  OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 along with NESC cover this type of work in a utility setting. Click here to read more about this electrical [...]

ConEdison tested FR clothing in real-life utility situations inside manholes, transformer vaults, and bucket trucks.  The testing gives individuals the opportunity to view the results of various clothing options. Click here to view the 5 minute video of testing results.