In the US we frequently see a cartoon of a little boy urinating on something in the back window of a truck. Thought is might sound a bit strange. This kind of behavior can lead to death in a utility substation. A metal thief was seriously injured during an electrical substation explosion.   An accomplice indicated [...]

On the morning of February 6, a Lenenergo Power Station outside of Petersburg  lit up the night sky with an explosion as a result of a ‘technical fault’. Click here to watch the video and read a brief article dated 2/8/12. Click here to read the report from the Russian news website, Fontanku.ru.

A  48-year-old Tennessee contractor was killed when a transformer exploded at a utility substation.  She was working on the transformer when she was killed in the blast. Two additional employees were hospitalized with second and third degree burns. OSHA is investigating the incident. Click here to read more about fatal transformer explosion

As copper increases in value, so does copper theft.  Copper is typically stolen from vacant or abandoned homes or work sites, but in rural areas it is typically stolen from utility companies.   Thieves who break into electrical sub-stations risk their lives as they venture near high voltage and could cause a power surge to customers [...]

A 25 year-old apprentice lineman badly burned over 50% of his body in an electrical incident in October 2010 is continuing his rehabilitation.  The lineman was operating a scissor lift at an electrical substation when electricity arced and touched the corner of the lift. The electricity traveled to the ground and back, resulting in severe burns. Without electrical [...]

“Officials probe accident where worker was burned
By JASON SCHREIBER
Union Leader Correspondent
Saturday, Jul. 3, 2010

CHESTER – Federal safety inspectors have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s accident that severely burned a man while he was working at a utility substation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to spend the next several weeks reviewing the accident at a New Hampshire Electric Co-op substation on Old Sandown Road.

Authorities said the victim, an employee of I.C. Reed and Sons Inc. of Raymond, was working from a bucket truck when he received a jolt of 7,200 volts of electricity to his shoulder. Fire Chief Richard Antoine said the worker’s shoulder “touched something that obviously it shouldn’t have” while he was working in the bucket and that the electricity entered through his shoulder and exited through his arm.

The shock left the victim with third-degree burns to his upper body, officials said. He was flown to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

While the victim’s condition wasn’t known yesterday, Antoine said he was told that he’s “doing very well.” Authorities have not identified the worker, citing privacy laws.

I.C. Reed and Sons, which has not returned calls, was subcontracted by New Hampshire Electric Co-op to perform work at the substation.

OSHA spokesman Ted Fitzgerald said the federal agency was immediately notified about the accident on Thursday and inspectors quickly arrived to begin their review.

“We need to determine which safety standards would apply and whether or not they were complied with,” Fitzgerald said.

OSHA inspectors have up to six months to complete their review, but Fitzgerald said they should done before then, adding that the investigation will likely take several weeks.

Seth Wheeler, spokesman for New Hampshire Electric Co-op, said he didn’t know the status of the work that was being done and whether it had been completed. He said the accident didn’t cause any prolonged outages for electric customers.”

Story updated a few minutes ago.  Two workers hurt in an arc flash. One with possible inhalation.  Arc rated clothing dramatically reduce these injuries.  Cotton clothing, if it ignites usually kills the worker.  These type of incidents are covered by OSHA 1910.269.  NSTAR is a leading company in arc flash safety.  The NESC and OSHA [...]