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Appliance repair person was electrocuted in a repair shop while diagnosing the problem with a microwave oven - Maryland.

Maryland Division of Labor and Industry

Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 94MD038, 1999 Jul; :1-4

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/md/94md038.html

20026141

A 43-year-old male appliance repair-person (the victim) was electrocuted while performing diagnostic tests on a malfunctioning microwave oven. The victim had stopped by another appliance repair shop to pick up overflow work he had left for service. Before departing he brought a microwave oven into the shop and asked if he could spend a few minutes diagnosing a problem with the oven. The victim removed the cover of the oven to access the circuitry. The oven was plugged in and turned on when the victim began to handle the circuitry. The witnesses heard a "pop", saw the victim jerk his hand out of the oven, and fall to the ground. One witness unplugged the equipment while the other witness checked the condition of the victim and then telephoned 911 to summon the emergency medical services (EMS). Paramedics responded within several minutes. The victim was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries one hour and 15 minutes after the incident. The Maryland FACE investigator suggests that to prevent similar occurrences employers should: 1. ensure that diagnostic procedures performed on electrical equipment are done with the correct testing instruments and in conformance with the directions for their safe use. 2. ensure that repairs to electrical equipment are performed when the equipment is deenergized and/or removed from the live energy sources.

Region-3; Accident-analysis; Accident-potential; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Electric-properties; Electrical-conductivity; Electrical-hazards; Electrical-insulation; Electrical-safety; Electrical-workers; Electricity; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Electrocutions

19990701

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

Cooperative Agreement

1999

PB2007-107276

A01

FACE-94MD038; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-309872

NAICS-33

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

MD; WV

Maryland Division of Labor and Industry