Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » Power plant incidents

Critical Injuries in TX Power Plant Explosion

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:51:39 +0000

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 explosion incident.

Switchyard Incident at Sequoyah Nuclear Facility in TN

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:30:27 +0000

An explosion in the 161 kV switchyard of the Sequoyah Nucleaer Facility in eastern TN resulted in being classed as an Emergency “Unusual Event”. No injuries were reported due to the fault and resulting explosion.

Click here to read the Notification of Unusual Event from 2/12/12.

Good News Bad News Entergy Nuclear Plant Shut Down By Arc Flash

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:30:56 +0000

This is a classic good news/bad news story. Entergy’s Pallisades Nuclear Plant was shut down by an arc flash, electrical fault. The good news is that “no workers were injured”. In the past, a worker or two would have been hurt AND the plant would have been shut down. What might make spectacular news with “nuclear plant” and “shut down” listed in the same story is to me a huge victory! No workers injured. Plant was shut down. Agreed, that’s not good. No one was hurt. I’m sure Entergy lost income. That’s bad but “no worker was injured”. Little celebration here! Following NFPA 70E in all nuclear plants in the US and Entergy was among the first to implement, has saved another life.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/feature/x133070586/Report-Inadequate-safety-policies-led-to-nuclear-plant-incident

Two Canadians Killed in Separate Electrical Accidents

Hugh Hoagland — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:18:23 +0000

Two electrical incidents in different areas of Alberta resulted in the deaths of two electrical workers. One was killed while installing cables near Ft. McMurray. The second occurred in Southwest Alberta while working on a power transmission project.

Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety department says a 34-year-old electrical foreman died yesterday morning while installing cables at a camp for oil and gas workers north of Fort McMurray. The accidents are under investigation.

Click here to read more about the Electocutions in Alberta, CA

Kleen Energy Explosion Citations of $16 Million in Fines include NEC “Listing” Violations

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:58:01 +0000

Kleen Energy explosion included “Citations …for failing to install & use electrical equipment in accordance with its listing and labeling.” OSHA and the NEC (NFPA 70) which is law in most states require electrical equipment be used in accordance with its listing and labeling. It is all to common to find citations on this even in new plants like this one.

Click here to read the OSHA press release of on these fines.

Arc flash burns 7 workers doing inspections at a Japan nuclear reactor. Arc Flash Training would have reduced the number involved.

Hugh Hoagland — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:03:45 +0000

Arc flash happens all over the world. Only a few countries have really addressed it. Arc flash training using NFPA 70E would have reduced the number involved by defining the arc flash boundary.

Most are still ignoring it because the percentage of incidents is low but once people study the incidents they realize about 25% of the arc flash incidents lead to permanent disability or a fatality. This makes some attention to this infrequent event a real good investment. Japan could adopt NFPA 70E. e-Hazard.com is planning a training trip to Japan and China in 2010. Electric utilities in both countries are interested in the research.

Click here to read the Bloomberg Story.

TVA arc flash incident from the firefighter’s point of view.

Hugh Hoagland — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:14:22 +0000

These firefighters had a real challenge putting out a fire in a 4160V switchgear at the TVA plant last week.

Interesting comment on how they put the fire, caused by an arc flash, out.

Click here to read the news story.

Al Havens at e-Hazard.com teaches classes on electrical safety for first responders.

TVA 4160V Arc Flash shuts down plant. 2 EE’s treated for smoke inhalation.

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:17:19 +0000

TVA has an excellent arc flash PPE program. The Fox News story doesn’t say if they were working on the breaker or if it just failed.

Arc Flash Training and the right PPE make huge differences in arc events.

Click here to read the Fox News Story.

Click here to read a little more detailed story but it calls the incident a fire.