Exposure to electric arc · Electrical burns and electrocution
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Eversource Energy, Highland Street, CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS 02150
on — Electrical burns and electrocution, affecting the Body systems and other part(s) of body.
Final narrative
An employee was setting up to test newly installed underground cables before energizing them when an arc flash occurred and the employee sustained an electrical shock. The employee also sustained an entry/exit wound on his right hand between his index and middle fingers.
Hospitalized Body systems and other part(s) of body Power lines, transformers, convertors
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An employee was in an aerial bucket clearing branches. A 70-pound branch hung up in the tree after being cut, then fell and struck the employee in the back and neck. The employee suffered a broken scapula and three broken vertebrae.
An employee was aloft in an insulated bucket, freeing an unpowered secondary wire from a snag in a tree. His shoulder touched the primary wire above him, causing electricity to pass through his left arm and exit through his left hand. He sustained third degree burns to the left shoulder and had exit wounds on his thumb area and between his ring and middle fingers. Personal protective equipment was not being worn at the time of the incident.
An employee was terminating cables in a junction box. A loose ground wire came into contact with the bushing, causing a flash that burned the right side of the employee's face and his right hand.
An employee was using a bucket truck hoist to raise secondary aerial wiring. The wire made contact with the primary wire, causing an arc flash. The employee suffered burns to both hands and was hospitalized.
A temporary employee was testing an electrical starter motor. He was placing tape on the starter while the breaker was not engaged, but the starter sent an arc flash that burned his hands and stomach.
Two employees were removing a circuit breaker. The injured employee was using wrenches in the removal process. One of the wrenches contacted an adjacent door, resulting in an arc flash. The employee suffered burns to their neck, face, and ear, as well as momentary vision loss due to the flash.
An employee was setting up communication equipment for a meeting. They were walking and tripped over a speaker on the ground. The employee sustained a leg injury.
An employee (a lineman) was working to restore power by installing a hand line when he contacted a high-voltage device (7,200 volts), resulting in electrical burns to his upper body and hands.
A chain sling failed while a utility pole was being removed. A chain link struck an employee who was operating a front-end loader, puncturing the employee's chest.
An employee was working with an underground crew to troubleshoot a BUD failure. The employee was removing a fuse from the fuse holder when the fuse blew on the riser and an arc flash occurred. The employee was hospitalized with burns to his face, nose, lips, and neck.
An employee was connecting two wires when his rubber insulated gloves failed and he suffered an electric shock to his right hand, resulting in an electrical burn.
An employee fell while exiting a trailer. The employee landed on their left side on the pavement, suffering multiple broken ribs on the left side. The employee was hospitalized.
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An employee was operating a roller and paving a small pathway next to a pavilion. The ground was on a slight pitch, causing him to reach up toward the roll cage to stabilize himself. His right fifth finger was pinched between the roll cage and the rafter of the pavilion. The employee sustained a partial degloving injury with partial traumatic amputation.
An employee was delivering home heating fuel when bees came from the ground and stung the employee's face, neck, torso, and hands. The employee proceeded to shut off the oil flow before losing consciousness. They were hospitalized due to an anaphylactic reaction.