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Selected Electrical Incidents and Occurrences - Third Quarter - July to September, 2006
 

 
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Subject
- Selected Electrical Incidents and Occurrences - Third Quarter - July to September, 2006

January 8, 2006  

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Selected Electrical Incidents and Occurrences in Canada

Third Quarter – July to September, 2006

 

Date &       Program      Location     Accident Description

MIS ID #

 

Fatalities:

 

July 21st                 Construction         Petrolia                  Worker was operating a gravel spreading machine.  The raised

1098782                                                                                  box of a dump truck hit overhead 4.8 kV power lines, current

                                                                                                passed through truck to spreader.  Worker was fatally injured

                                                                                                as he stepped off the spreader onto the ground.

 

July 25th                 Industrial               Belleville                Farmer plugged in an auger motor, felt a shock.  Replaced

1084739                                                                                  what he thought was faulty extension cord, plugged in the

                                                                                                motor again.  Farmer was electrocuted from 120 volts.

                                                                                                Phase to ground fault on motor, no proper grounding.

 

****************Fatality reported to MOL – not work related, not part of report statistics**************

 

August 4th              *******              Pickering                Person flying a hang glider, flew into utility transformer and .

1099497                                                                                  lines.  Person was fatally injured by electrical contact.

                                                                                                Voltage of lines not given.

 

 

Critical Injuries:

 

July 31st                 Construction         Thunder Beach    Worker was washing conveyor belt for concrete truck, swung

1092386                                                                                  belt too far, hit a hydro wire.  Worker received a shock, fell to

                                                                                                the ground, lost consciousness for a short time.

 

August 3rd              Industrial               North York            Utility worker was badly burnt from an electrical arc on a

1099513                                                                                  27.6 kV overhead line.  Worker was doing rubber glove work

                                                                                                from a bucket on one side of the pole, when a tree branch

                                                                                                came down, causing an arc on the other side of the pole.  The

                                                                                                work being done at the time was not related to line clearing or

                                                                                                to the tree involved in the incident.  Worker was wearing

                                                                                                FR bib style coveralls over a cotton shirt and synthetic bicycle

                                                                                                shorts.  Worker was leaning out from the bucket at the time

                                                                                                of the flash, pocket flap on right side of coveralls opened up.

                                                                                                Arc energy from flash melted the shorts, causing the burns.

 

August 17th            Industrial               Brampton             Worker on ladder replacing a light bulb, received a shock.

1096537                                                                                  Worker fell from ladder, unconscious for a couple of minutes.

 

August 21st            Construction         Ottawa                   Worker was in a bucket when the bucket hit an overhead line.

1097250                                                                                   Worker was knocked unconscious, no other details of event

                                                                                                were given.

 

August 29th            Industrial               Welland                 Worker was using a DC magnet suspended from a crane.

1100539                                                                                   He noticed two dangling wires, tried to push them together

                                                                                                without first taking power off the magnet.  Worker received

                                                                                                burns to both hands, lost consciousness for a short time.

 

August 30th            Industrial               Toronto                 Worker opened electrical panel to push resets for auger.

1100811                                                                                   Made electrical contact, knocked unconscious.  Voltage

                                                                                                inside panel not given.

 

September 23rd     Construction         Toronto                 Two electrical workers doing work in an electrical room.

1097946                                                                                  Arc happened, 1 worker had 2nd degree burns to forehead..

                                                                                                Second worker had 3rd degree burns to right arm and face, and

                                                                                                internal burns in throat.

 

 

Non-Critical Injuries:

 

July 4th                   Industrial               St. Catharines       Worker felt a shock while using a wet/dry vacuum on a wet

1098087                                                                                  floor.  A section of the appliance cord had been wrapped with

                                                                                                masking tape.

 

July 5th                   Construction         Etobicoke              Worker doing work on a new compressor, arc happened.

1098178                                                                                  Worker was burned to hands and face.

 

July 11th                 Construction         Etobicoke              Two electricians received 2nd degree burns, taken to hospital.

1098147                                                                                  No other details of event given.

 

July 12th                 Industrial               Toronto                 Worker was relocating some exit lights, received an electrical

1095028                                                                                  shock.  Worker had traced the power back to the wrong box.

                                                                                                Part of a complete lockout procedure – VERIFY

 

July 13th                 Construction         Welland                 Electrician was connecting the HVAC unit when he received a

1098790                                                                                  600 V shock.  Suffered burns to finger on left hand.

 

July 14th                 Construction         Etobicoke              Working from a ladder, installing new conduits in ceiling area.

1098599                                                                                  Worker received a 240 V shock, had dizziness and difficulty

                                                                                                breathing.  Taken to hospital.

 

July 19th                 Construction         Kitchener              Worker made contact with 8 kV power line.  No visible

1098556                                                                                  injuries but worker was still taken to hospital as a precaution.

 

July 21st                 Construction         Toronto                 Worker was holding onto a post while removing a ground

1093394                                                                                  cable.  Worker felt a shock and fell down.

 

July 28th                 Industrial               Cambridge            Worker was re-attaching test probes for a 24 V circuit when

1099384                                                                                  his hand slipped.  Worker received shock from 600 V circuit,

                                                                                                taken to hospital for observation.

 

July 31st                 Construction         Pickering                Construction electrician was tying in wires when a connector

1098642                                                                                  came apart.  Worker received an electrical shock, fell off

                                                                                                ladder, about six feet to floor.

 

August 1st              Industrial               Hamilton               Worker was inserting valve key into valve box, felt an

1099423                                                                                  electrical shock.

 

August 1st              Construction         Mississauga          Worker was connecting an extension cord to a SKIL saw,

1099473                                                                                   received a 110 V shock.  Taken to hospital by ambulance.

 

August 2nd             Mining                   St. Mary’s             Wiring failure inside electrical equipment caused the worker

1099431                                                                                    using the equipment to receive a 110 V shock.

 

August 3rd              Industrial               Concord                  Maintenance worker was fixing a light fixture, contacted a live

1099516                                                                                    wire.  Reaction to the shock caused him to fall off the ladder,

                                                                                                injuring his shoulder.

 

August 4th              Construction         Toronto                 Welder was pulling out some welding cables for a welder

1093262                                                                                    while it was still running.  Felt an electrical shock across his

                                                                                                chest area, went to hospital for observations.

 

August 5th              Construction         Brampton             Operator of lift truck went into convulsions after lift truck

1093396                                                                                   contacted hydro wires.  Type and voltage of lines not given.

 

August 10th            Industrial               L’Orignal               Worker doing work on energized electrical panel, received

1097029                                                                                    burns from electrical contact.  No other details of event given.

 

August 13th            Industrial               Ridgetown             Worker contacted 600 V from an energized cable, received

1096255                                                                                    burns to right hand.  No details given of work being done.

 

August 15th            Industrial               Hamilton               Worker was pushing the plug into the receptacle when a spark

1100353                                                                                   occurred.  Worker received burn to thumb, went to hospital.

 

August 17th            Industrial               Guelph                   Maintenance worker was troubleshooting injection moulding

1100362                                                                                   machine when he received a 270 V shock.  Worker sent to

                                                                                                hospital, then released.

 

August 22nd           Industrial               London                  Worker was using steel wool pad and soapy water to clean a

1100762                                                                                   countertop.  Steel wool pad contacted 220 V receptacle. 

                                                                                                Worker received a shock, went to hospital and released.

 

August 24th            Industrial               Niagara Falls        Worker doing work on a panel, received a 110 V shock.

1100070                                                                                   Worker taken to hospital, no other details given.

 

August 25th            Industrial               Stoney Creek        Worker was checking boiler for a flame, as he stood up, his

1100698                                                                                   hand contacted a wire cage.  Boiler uses 6000 V at low current

                                                                                                worker collapsed from the electrical contact, did not lose

                                                                                                consciousness.

 

August 30th            Industrial               Oshawa                 Student pulled plug out of wall socket, received an electrical

1100814                                                                                   shock.  No other details of event given.

 

August 31st            Industrial               Windsor                Worker received burns from an arc flash event at an indoor

1098828                                                                                  substation.  Burns were to left and right forearms, right side of

                                                                                                face and right side of neck.  Worker was opening 13.8 kV

                                                                                                metal enclosed switch, door was not properly secured, blew

                                                                                                open when arc occurred.  Arc caused by weak springs not

                                                                                                forcing contacts open fast enough.  Disconnect switch was

                                                                                                being operated many times a month for operation purposes,

                                                                                                not just as an isolating device.

 

September 5th       Industrial               Toronto                 Worker was testing outlet, got sparks.  Worker received minor

1101255                                                                                  burns from spraks, taken to hospital then released.

 

September 6th       Construction         Ancaster                Worker received 110 V shock while working on equipment.

1101095                                                                                  Worker taken to hospital then released.

 

September 15th     Construction         Wasaga                 Worker was doing work on eavestrough, aluminum ladder

1092402&1101556 (same event)    Beach                    contacted 5 kV.  Worker received minor injuries only.

 

September 18th     Construction         Toronto                 Worker received electrical shock from wires in junction box.

1101558                                                                                  No details given of specific work being done at the time.

 

September 21st     Construction         Ottawa                   Worker received an electrical shock and minor burns to right

1101341                                                                                  hand.  No details given of work being done at the time.

 

September 21st     Construction         Mississauga          Worker was doing drilling for a new light fixture.  Brushed

1101693                                                                                  elbow against 347 V box and received a shock.

 

September 27th     Construction         Brampton             Worker was removing a de-energized panel from electrical

11011726                                                                             room.  Made contact with 120 volts, taken to hospital and

                                                                                             released.  No details given on source of 120 V in a

                                                                                             “de-energized” panel.

 

September 28th     Construction         Caledon                 Two workers carrying an extension ladder, ladder contacted

1101725                                                                                  overhead lines.  Workers received burns to their feet.

 

 

Powerline Contacts – No Injuries:

 

July 5th                   Construction         Toronto                 Crane being used to move a metal fence, touched a hydro line.

1092319                                                                                  Pole caught on fire as a result of incident.

 

July 11th                 Construction         Paakenham          Dump truck hit an overhead power line, broke the pole.

1095469

 

July 13th                 Construction         St Catharines        Excavator contacted 8 kV buried line.  Contractor said “No

1083820                                                                                  damage”, but all the lights in the neighbourhood were out.

 

July 13th                 Construction         Sudbury                 Excavator hit a buried primary cable.  Locates not marked

1093747                                                                                  properly.

 

July 17th                 Construction         Milton                    Worker was on steps of truck, truck contacted overhead lines.

1095989                                                                                  All eight tires of truck blew from the contact, no information

                                                                                                given on any injuries to worker.

 

July 19th                 Construction         Brantford              Directional boring machine hit a 2400 V buried line.  Locates

1098570                                                                                  had been done, boring machine was being used within the

                                                                                                limits of the locates.

 

 

July 19th                 Construction         Sarnia                    Boom of boom truck was raised a worker drove truck on

1098926                                                                                  highway.  Boom hit high voltage power line.

 

July 19th                 Construction         Welland                 Worker using ammeter, casing of ammeter got too close

1098929                                                                                  to 2400 V cable.  Arc happened from cable through

                                                                                                ammeter case to neutral.  No injuries to worker.

 

July 20th                 Construction         Kawartha Lakes  Boom of a 320 Caterpillar Excavator hit an overhead electrical

1097830                                                                                  cable.

 

July 20th                 Construction         Toronto                 Counterweight of crane contacted 10.8 kV overhead line.

1098616

 

July 22nd                Construction         Thunder Bay        Contractor hit buried secondary cable.

1091254

 

July 25th                 Construction         Ottawa                   Shovel contacted buried cables, locates were off by about

1097018                                                                                   7 feet.

 

July 25th                 Construction         London                  Loader doing grading operations, contacted a buried 13 kV

1099354                                                                                  cable.

 

July 26th                 Construction         Ottawa                   Crane lifting pile of wood, wind caused load to swing and

1097073                                                                                  contact overhead lines.

 

July 26th                 Construction         Vaughan                 Digging equipment hit 27.6 kV buried cable.

1098632

 

July 26th                 Construction         Kitchener              Excavator hit buried primary cables, no locates.

1098806

 

July 26th                 Construction         Toronto                 Boom from a lift truck hit overhead wires, blew tires off

1098994                                                                                  truck.

 

July 26th                 Construction         New Dundee         Worker cut through the wires of a 3-phase sub-circuit.

1099237

 

July 31st                 Industrial               Thunder Bay        Truck hit overhead line.

1091537

 

August 1st              Construction         Cambridge            Excavator contacted 240 V overhead line.

1099316

 

August 1st              Construction         Toronto                 Excavation work, contacted residential power line in

1099504                                                                                   backyard of residence.

 

August 2nd             Construction         Oshawa                 Backhoe hit overhead 8 kV power line.

1099477

 

August 3rd              Construction         Southampton       Wire plough hit a residential service.

1099740

 

August 3rd              Construction         Ancaster               Contractor hit a buried 27 kV cable.

1099777

 

August 8th              Construction         Thunder Bay        Backhoe doing excavation, contacted a buried power cable.

1092078

 

August 9th              Construction         Cambridge            Contractor was using a directional borer machine,

1099795                                                                                   hit a 4 kV cable.

 

August 15th            Construction         Toronto                 Scaffold collapsed, hit residential power line.  Scaffold was

1100160                                                                                    two storeys high.

 

August 16th            Construction         Markham              Paving truck used farmer’s field to turn around, contacted a

1074858                                                                                   16 kV power line.

 

August 16th            Construction         Toronto                 Tower crane contacted overhead wires.

1100161

 

August 17th            Construction         Markham              Contractor doing digging, hit a buried power line cable.

1100161

 

August 17th            Construction         Tecumseh             Boom from cement rruck hit 16 kV overhead cable.

1100599

 

August 18th            Construction         St. Catharines       Backhoe hit buried 240 V residential service.

1100071

 

August 20th            Construction         Whitby                   Worker cutting cables, inadvertently cut a live 110 V cable.

1099988

 

August 21st            Construction         Wellesley               During a motor vehicle accident, a cement truck pulled down

1084767                                                                                   the neutral of an overhead line.

 

August 21st            Construction         Richmond Hill      Contractor digging, hit a 27.6 kV buried power line.

1100233

 

August 22nd           Construction         Baden                    Worker using a Hi-Hoe contacted a 4.8 kV overhead line.

1100672                                                                                    Too ‘high’ a Hi-Hoe???????????

 

August 24th            Construction         Brampton             Live cables hit by contractor, no other details of event

1093828                                                                                  given.

 

August 25th            Construction         St. Catharines       Contact made with buried 240 V cable, no other details of

1100266                                                                                    event given.

 

August 28th            Construction         Windsor                 Angle slipped out of gripping device, contacted 480 V

1101237                                                                                    bus bar.

 

August 28th            Construction         Elliot Lake            Overhead high voltage line hit by contractor, no other details

1101441                                                                                  of event given.

 

August 29th            Construction         Hamilton               Torpedo struck buried power line.  Lines found by locate were

1100978                                                                                   hand dug and exposed, line hit by torpedo was not on locate.

 

August 30th            Construction         Oakwood              Event description mentioned a power line contact that tripped

1099856                                                                                  off a breaker.  No other details of event given.

 

August 31st            Construction         Richmond Hill      Backhoe boom contacted a telephone line, snapped off the

1078146                                                                                   pole.

 

September 1st        Construction         Ajax                       Contractor hit buried cable.  Working with no locates.

1100831

 

September 5th       Construction         Toronto                 Backhoe digging trench for new duct bank, hit 500 V cable.

1100612

 

September 6th       Construction         Waterloo               Backhoe doing digging, contacted 2400 cable.  Locates were

1100544                                                                                  off.

 

September 8th       Construction         Kirkland Lake      Hydro line pulled down, no details given of equipment

1098909                                                                                 involved.

 

September 11th     Construction         Ottawa                   Shovel doing digging, contacted 16 kV buried cable.

1100220

 

September 11th     Construction         Oaakville               Worker drilling holes to hang a sign, hit a power cable.

1100754

 

September 12th     Construction         Mississauga          Workers moving a ladder from roof to ground, ladder hit

1101049                                                                                   high-voltage power lines.  No injuries to workers.  Event

                                                                                                happened at a church, draw your own conclusions.

 

September 12th     Construction         Hamilton               Workers digging, contacted buried 240 V residential cable.

1101474

 

September 13th     Construction         Artemsia                Crew was moving a wooden pole, lost control of the pole.

1101477                                                                                   Pole contacted overhead lines in the vicinity.

 

September 18th     Construction         Kingston                Event classified as electrical occurrence, no other details

1102297                                                                                   of event given.

 

September 25th     Construction         Sudbury                 Worker using a hand grinder, cut through three 110 V

1099072                                                                                   control cables.

 

September 25th     Construction         Vaughan                 Worker doing digging, contacted 27 kV buried cable.

1101781

 

September 26th     Construction         Sudbury                 Excavator clearing out truck, swung and clipped some

1101405                                                                                  overhead lines.

 

DATA SUMMARY – Third Quarter:

 

                                Fatals:                   Criticals:              Non-criticals:                      Powerline             Electrical

                                                                                                                                                Contacts:              Equipment:

 

2006                            2                                7                                33                                         56                            0

 

2005                            2                                4                                39                                         67                            0

2004                            3                                5                                24                                         56                            1

2003                            5                                6                                24                                         50                            4

2002                            1                              10                               34                                         59                            0

2001                            2                                5                                25                                         44                            1

 

2000                            2                                5                                26                                         42                            0

1999                            3                              11                               24                                         40                            0

1998                            5                              13                               13                                         40                            2

 

 

 

 

And Finally…..

 

July 19th                 Mining                   Timmins                 Worker driving water truck, backed up and hit a gate.

1093608                                                                                  Worker got out of truck, looked at the damage, and fainted.

                                                                                                You can draw your own conclusions about who was going to

                                                                                                have to pay for the damages.

                                                                                               

 

.

 

 

Information taken from Ministry of Labour MIS database

Report prepared: December 6, 2006

 

Assembled by:     Michael Reiser

                                Engineer

                                PSS – Kitchener District

 

                                Phone:   (519) 883-5682

                                FAX:      (519) 883-5694

                                E-Mail:  mike.reiser@mol.gov.on.ca

 

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