On October 10, 2010, a 42 year- old contract electrician with 4 years of experience was seriously injured at a granite operation. The victim and two co-workers were installing ground fault indicator lights in a circuit breaker enclosure when an arc flash occurred. The circuit breaker enclosure contained a bottom feed circuit breaker. All three workers were hospitalized and the victim died on October 12, 2010.
Before YOU perform electrical work:
- Be trained on all the electrical tests and safety equipment necessary to safely test and ground the circuit being worked on.
- Conduct a risk assessment.
- Use properly rated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Arc Flash Protection such as a hood, gloves, shirt, and pants.
- Positively identify the circuit on which work is to be conducted.
- De-energize power and ensure that the circuit is visibly open.
- Place YOUR lock and tag on the disconnecting device.
- Verify the circuit is de-energized by testing for voltage using properly rated test equipment.
- Ensure ALL electrical components in the enclosure are de-energized.
- Ground ALL phase conductors to the equipment grounding medium with grounding equipment that is properly rated.
- Install warning labels on the terminal covers of bottom feed circuit breakers stating the “Bottom terminal lugs remain energized when the circuit breaker is open.”
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).