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Electrician electrocuted after contacting an energized 480-volt bus bar in South Carolina, January 8, 1990.

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 90-22, 1990 Jun; :1-6

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/In-house/full9022.html

00206132

The case of a 30 year old male electrician who was electrocuted as he and a coworker attempted to perform electrical maintenance services in a main service disconnect breaker panel at a hotel was examined. Hurricane Hugo had caused extensive damage to the hotel. The victim and his coworker had been assigned to clear a ground fault that repeatedly tripped a 400 amp breaker in the main service panel. Initially they switched all the breakers, including the main breaker, off and then both men removed the panel covers from the breaker panel. As the coworker turned away to place the panel covers on the floor, the victim apparently turned the switch back to the on position and contacted the bus bar and a conductor. He stopped breathing about 2 minutes after the incident, and was pronounced dead at a hospital. It was recommended that employers develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive safety program which includes worker training in recognizing and avoiding hazards; and that electrical systems be deenergized and tested to verify that they are deenergized prior to any work being performed.

NIOSH-Author; Region-4; FACE-90-22; Accident-analysis; Electrical-hazards; Electrical-workers; Occupational-accidents

19900618

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

1990

PB92-184092

A02

FACE-90-22

DSR

NAICS-23

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

SC; WV