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Electrician electrocuted in North Carolina.

NIOSH

Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 86-47, 1986 Sep; :1-5

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/In-house/full8647.html

00170396

A 54 year old electrician who was a partner in an electrical contracting company was electrocuted while installing a runway lighting system. The electrician and his son were installing runway lights at a small airport as part of a renovation project. The lights were connected in series to a 3000 volt source with step down transformers at each light. The contractor had disconnected the old lines and installed new lines. When this task was completed, the system was energized to determine whether it was operating properly. The son of the contractor was in a building housing the power switch and the control panel, about 1500 feet from the work site. He had been instructed to change the on/off status of the switch when he saw a flashlight blink five or six times. Apparently, the motion of the contractor's arm while taping the conductors on the last runway light to be connected blocked the light from the flashlight another man was holding for him, and this was misinterpreted by the son as the signal to reenergize the lights. The man was electrocuted as a result of contact with the 3000 volt source. Recommendations arising from this accident include: the person working on the electrical system must be the one who either energizes or deenergizes the system, and a written lockout policy must be developed for all jobs and enforced.

NIOSH-Author; Region-4; FACE-86-47; Electrical-hazards; Electrical-shock; Electrical-workers; Safety-practices; Construction-Search

19860902

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

1986

PB87-222451

A01

FACE-86-47

DSR

NAICS-23

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NC; WV