OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14495964
BRUCE OAKLEY INC
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR—
Event description
ELECTRIC SHOCK - CORROSION-CAUSED FAULT IN SWITCH
Investigation abstract
A 4-FOOT-BY-8-FOOT ROOM IN A SALT GRINDING BAY HOUSED SWITCHES ALONG ONE WALL. A ENERGIZED THE METAL CABLE TRAY AND THE OTHER THREE SWITCHES. THE EMPLOYEE WAS EL ECTROCUTED AS HE TOUCHED ONE OF THE SMALLER SWITCHES. 5-FOOT SECTION OF METAL CABLE TRAY HAD BEEN MOUNTED THERE; AND, ON TOP OF THE C ABLE TRAY, A MAIN SWITCH HAD BEEN INSTALLED WITH A SHORT METAL NIPPLE. THREE OTH ER SWITCHES WERE ALSO INSTALLED ON TOP OF THE TRAY IN THE SAME MANNER. ALL OF TH E SWITCHES WERE RATED 480 VOLTS, 3 PHASE. BECAUSE OF CORROSION PROBLEMS, THE SWI TCHES WERE SUPPLIED BY CONDUCTORS RUN IN NONMETALLIC CONDUIT. HOWEVER, THE SWITC HES WERE OF THE GENERAL-PURPOSE TYPE, AND CORROSION HAD CAUSED LEAKAGE TO DEVELO P FROM THE CENTER PHASE TO THE SWITCH HANDLE. AN EMPLOYEE MOVED THE HANDLE OF TH E MAIN SWITCH IN THE UP POSITION. BECAUSE THE METAL TRAY WAS NOT GROUNDED, THIS
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 35 M
- Nature of injury
- 10
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 13
- Source
- 15
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 9
- Task assigned
- 1
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