“Two NStar workers were hospitalized Friday morning after an overnight fire in a manhole at the corner of Summer and Otis Streets. Both men are at Mass General Hospital, but their conditions are not immediately known. NStar said the men were working in the manhole when an equipment failure sparked the fire. Both streets have been reopened.”

ConEd has an exceptional arc flash PPE program. Two injured. One critical according to one report but not critical according to a ConEd report. Most like a manhole arc flash. Standers-by might think the person in the hole was worse off than reality. Arc flashes have substantial smoke which looks [...]

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No maintenance going on here. Sounds like a cable failure.
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The plumber’s snake was found in the 5kV transformer. No injuries. Basic arc flash training and electrical safety training should be required in all corporate training programs.
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These happen. If workers are present they must be protected by some means. ConEd uses arc rated clothing (ASTM F1506) and rubber gloves with leather protectors to start and arc flash blankets (ASTM F2676) in some cases. They use NESC electrical safety training for their arc flash training
See ArcWear.com for standard info.
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Note: This is my opinion with ONLY the news article information.
Looks like something I had thought COULD happen has happened. Arc flash in manhole, blows off cover and hits someone.
Prevention of arc flash can help save public too.
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Another arc flash in a network system. Hawaiian Electric has two workers injured. Most likely they were in arc rated clothing since “one of the men was initially deemed to be in critical condition but was upgraded to serious condition shortly after his arrival at the hospital.”
Following the requirements of the NESC and [...]

Here is what methane buildup in manholes can do. Arc flash is about the same but more power from a burn perspective on those in the hole from arc plasma in some cases.
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BC Hydro was an early adopter of arc rated clothing for all arc flash exposed utility workers. This network system arc flash blew off a manhole cover (~90lbs/40kg).
Moving to flame resistant clothing stops clothing ignitons and dramatically reduces injuries. The second report says there are second and third degree burns and all workers [...]