A Hoschton, Ga., electrician died today after he was struck in the face by a live wire in front of a Martinez residence.

Workmen survey the scene Thursday after a co-worker was shocked by electricity. William Bret Ward, 45, was hit in the forehead by a live wire at about 10:30 a.m. while working on a ground transformer at a home on the 3900 block of Braddock Street, Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins said.

“(He) was pulling a wire into it and apparently his head came in contact with the current, and it electrocuted him,” Collins said.

Ward, a worker with Utility Lines Construction Services Inc., was wearing protective gloves and rubber sleeves when the wire hit him, Collins said.

Ward’s co-workers performed CPR on him until Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue and EMS crews arrived at the scene.

“It was just too much for him,” Collins said.

Ward was pronounced dead at about 11:30 a.m. at Doctors Hospital.

Three primary causes for “manhole explosions” are 1. Ignition of combustible or flammable gases or dusts in the manhole 2. Arc Flash 3. A combination of the two. By law, gases are monitored and these explosions are fairly rare.  Arc flashes are more common when gases are being monitored.  Click here to read the report.

PP&L has been in arc rated clothing for years.  They, like most electric utilities in the US have a strong arc flash program in place.  In cotton clothing, this worker would likely have never lived.  The right stuff makes a difference but doesn’t always full protect. The NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) 2007 version requires utilities [...]

These types of incidents are covered by CALOSHA and NESC. PG&E has a great safety and training program. The investigation will be swift. Read the article in the SF Chronicle online. Another article on same fatality. Another article, same fatality. Another article, same story. CalOSHA Confirms PG&E Death.

“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 like serious burns but often [...]

See the story in NY Mag

No maintenance going on here. Sounds like a cable failure. See the story.

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. Click here to read the news article.

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. Click here [...]