Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » Substation Incidents

Florida Woman Dies in Transformer Explosion

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:11:11 +0000

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.

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Copper Thieves Costly And Dangerous

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:45:33 +0000

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 and harm utility employees. The US DOE estimates that copper thefts cost $1 billion per year.

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Rehabilitation of Apprentice Lineman Badly Burned in 2010 Maine Electric Incident

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:04:56 +0000

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 safety equipment, it is speculated that the incident would have resulted in his death. OSHA has investigated and the company is conducting refresher safety training. Arc flashes resulting in >25% body burns usually means the clothing ignited or the arc tracked on the sweat on the body. If clothing ignition played a role, arc rated daily wear could have prevented most or all of the burns. No word of OSHA fines at this point but this is likely an arc flash. Most utilities are using arc rated daily wear. If it is provided, wear it. It makes all the difference in the world.

Click here to read more about Lineman’s Rehabilitation Following Electrical Incident

OSHA now investigating contractor burned at NH co-op in electrical contact.

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:42:43 +0000

"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."

Substation arc flash in Boston, MA area. Two workers hurt.

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:53:08 +0000

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 require arc flash calculations and adequate protection for the calculated level but depending on work practices being followed or not, the energy level can be greater.

Click here to read the story on Boston.com