Selected Electrical Incidents and Occurrences
Third Quarter - July to September, 2005
Date & Program Location Accident Description
MIS ID #
Fatalities:
July 15th Construction Windsor Person on a roof, lost his balance and grabbed a pole
1078410 containing some open wires. He fell into wires, received
burns to both arms. The person then fell about 15 feet to the
ground.
September 20th Industrial Waterloo Worker was part of a crew wheeling a machine from one part
1083333 of the plant to another. Vertical drops from the ceiling are
used to supply power to the various machines on the floor.
Cables used in the vertical drops are unshielded flexible cables
suitable for extra-hard usage in wet locations. Workers had
turned off the power at the machine, and had disconnected the
cable coupling before beginning to move the machine, but the
section of cable from the ceiling down to the location of the
coupling was still energized. As the crew moved the machine,
part of the machine caught on the vertical drop. A sharp
metallic edge cut into the cable, making contact with one of
power conductors. With the coupling disconnected and the
machine on rubber wheels, the machine frame was energized
and isolated from ground. Floor was very wet, the worker was
wearing leather footware, and was electrocuted. The other
workers were wearing rubber boots, no injuries reported.
Critical Injuries:
July 4th Construction Toronto Worker was on the roof of a building, pulling on a wire for a
1076550 swing ladder. Lightning struck the wire, worker lost
consciousness, also received burns to chest and shoulder.
July 18th Industrial Brampton Building superintendent doing work in hallway electrical
1078512 panel, changing a breaker. Arc happened, worker received
2nd degree burns to both hands and right arm.
August 17th Construction Toronto Two electricians were changing fuses on a 600 V distribution
1079707 board, using a screwdriver. Arc happened, first worker
received 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 50% of his body, second
worker received 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 30% of his body.
September 6th Construction Kanata Worker made electrical contact, fell about 4 metres, taken to
1079369 hospital. No other details of event given, including what he
fell from.
Non-Critical Injuries:
July 5th Construction Burlington Worker doing welding while sitting on a steel beam.
1078093 Arc transferred path, causing worker to receive a shock.
Worker taken to hospital.
July 7th Construction Mississauga Worker cleaning wires on a newly installed A/C unit.
1077311 Worker received a 110 V shock, taken to hospital.
July 7th Construction Hamilton Worker on roof, contacted 120 V power line with his forehead.
1078488
July 8th Construction Ingersoll Worker felt shock while using metal tape measure on building
1078496 steel while in a ZoomBoom. Event description speculated that
cause was static electricity from ZoomBoom. Although
description did not mention it, stray currents from arc welding
could also be a possibility. The description did say that the
tingle went from arm to arm across his body, indicating
current flow to ground.
July 8th Industrial Richmond Hill Worker received an electrical shock from a machine, no other
1077718 details given.
July 10th Industrial Brampton Worker doing repair work on HVAC unit, breaker blew.
1077696 Worker received burns to face and neck, may have also made
electrical contact.
July 11th Industrial Windsor Worker reached into an improperly guarded panel on a grinder
1076029 and received a 500 V shock.
July 14th Construction Cornwall Worker received an electrical burn, no other details given.
1074990
July 14th Construction Kitchener Worker inadvertently took hold of an energized power line,
1078805 received a shock. Checked out by paramedics.
July 16th Industrial Cambridge Worker received an electrical shock while checking out resets.
1078169 Worker checked out at workplace medical center.
July 20th Industrial Municipality Two workers doing work in a hopper, one worker plugged it in
1078961 not given to a 110 volt supply. Both workers received shocks.
July 23rd Construction Hamilton Roofer contacted overhead line, vomited and felt dizzy.
1056432 Worker sent to hospital.
July 31st Construction Sault Ste. Marie Worker received an electrical shock from a freezer. No details
1080215 given on what work he was doing at the time.
August 5th Construction Toronto Carpenter doing drilling contacted a wire. Injuries were burn
1077749 on leg, electrical shock, also fell off the ladder he was on.
August 9th Construction Whitby Electrician was doing work on wiring; received shock.
1079217 Taken to hospital for observation, voltage of wiring not given.
August 12th Construction Waterloo Contractor drilling, locates were off, hit 14 kV buried line.
1080337 One worker taken to hospital for observation.
August 13th Construction Vaughan Crane unloading bricks, boom of crane contacted 16 kV
1079760 Township power line. One worker was holding the basket attached to the
hoist cable, suffered electrical burn to one toe.
August 15th Industrial Newmarket Worker trying to troubleshoot a robotic panel, touched 600 V
1078921 fuses, received shock. Worker taken to hospital then released.
August 16th Construction Fort Erie Worker made electrical contact, taken to hospital for
1073801 observations. No details given of work being done at the time.
August 16th Construction Sudbury Worker transferring conductors on a rebuilt pole line. Touched
1078315 an energized wire, taken to hospital. Line voltage not given
August 16th Industrial Kitchener Worker changing wiring to switchgear. As worker was
1080526 feeding the wire, it contacted an energized buss. Three fuses
blew, worker suffered flash burns to left hand and forearm.
August 22nd Construction Toronto Apprentice electrician installing receptacle, received a shock.
1078788 Taken to hospital.
August 29th Industrial Orangeville Worker doing work on an electrical panel, panel blew up.
1061804 Worker received burns to left arm and neck.
August 29th Construction Guelph Worker was installing a replacement copper water pipe service
1082638 to a residence, received a shock when pipe was joined to
existing section of pipe from residence. Investigation found
problems with electrical service to house, resulting in a phase
sending power through the house’s electrical ground system.
August 30th Construction North York Boom of concrete pumping truck contacted 16 kV power line.
1080067 & 1083208 (same event) Worker received minor burns to waist area, went to hospital.
August 30th Construction Mississauga Worker made contact with 110 V energized wires, sent to
1082331 hospital.
September 1st Construction Corunna Worker made electrical contact, received burns. No details
1082672 given of work being done or further details on injuries
received.
September 2nd Industrial Toronto Person working on a machine, thought he had disconnected the
1082311 600 volt fuses to the machine. Made electrical contact,
received 2nd degree burns. No reason given why person used
fuses instead of using disconnect to remove power to machine.
September 6th Construction Mississauga Worker installing a lighting system, contacted a live wire in a
1079665 box. Received minor shock, taken to hospital.
September 7th Construction Baden Worker was hosing down the conveyor on a concrete pump
1082691 truck. Boom contacted an 8300 kv overhead power line.
Wires broke, sudden release of tension caused worker to fall,
striking his head. Worker was taken to hospital.
September 7th Industrial St Catherines Worker received a shock from a welding machine, taken to
1083134 hospital as a precaution. Event description did not specify if
contact was on the AC or DC side of welder.
September 7th Industrial Mount Forest Worker was using a multimeter, received burns to both hands.
1083304 No details given of what measurements were being taken at the
time, or of how the worker was injured.
September 8th Industrial Toronto Worker doing work on machine, made electrical contact.
1082318 Taken to hospital with burns to both hands. No details given
of work being done or of voltage involved.
September 14th Industrial Meaford Worker received an electrical shock while unplugging a stove.
1080124 Reported tingling in right arm, taken to hospital.
September 20th Construction Hamilton Worker was testing an electrical system when he made contact
1084046 with 13 kV. Worker received burns to both forearms.
September 27th Construction London Worker touched an underground powerline, received a shock
1083958 from an induced charge on the cable. Taken to hospital as a
precaution. No details given of where charge came from.
September 29th Construction St Catherines Worker doing work on an electrical panel, arc happened.
1078068 Worker was burned on both hands. No details given of what
work was being done on the panel at the time.
September 29th Industrial Kitchener Worker doing work on electrical panel, inserted a screwdriver.
1080371 Flash happened, worker had sore eyes, taken to hospital.
September 30th Industrial Sault Ste. Marie Worker operating a concrete conveyor, received an electrical
1084785 shock when he made contact with an electrical cable. Taken to
hospital, details of injuries received not specified.
Powerline Contacts – No Injuries:
July 5th Industrial Hamilton Dump truck hit power lines, pulled them down and snapped
1078248 a pole.
July 6th Construction Vaughan Equipment contacted a buried primary cable. No details
1077017 given on type of equipment or work being done at the time.
July 6th Construction London BOBCAT drove over a hydro cable, pulled a splice apart.
1078251
July 7th Construction Woodbridge While backfilling, boom of backhoe hit padmount transformer
1077095 Knocked it off the base, caused small fire at transformer,
kicked off the power.
July 12th Construction Simcoe Workers cut down a tree, tree contacted power lines.
1078266 Lines swayed, fuses knocked out.
July 12th Construction Tecumseh Truck contacted BELL cable, pulled it down. That pulled
1078399 down a hydro pole with three pole-mount transformers on it.
Lots of utilities showed up for the repair work.
July 13th Construction London Contractor installing fencing, power auger went through the
1078403 primary cable. Locates had been done.
July 14th Construction Windsor Boom truck contacted 16 kV overhead line while lifting forms
1056410 out from the basement foundation.
July 14th Construction St Catherines Gravel truck contacted 8 kV primary line.
1078975 Tires were smoking after the contact.
July 18th Construction Mississauga Backhoe hit a buried primary cable.
1077737
July 18th Construction London Excavator pulled down an overhead line.
1078815
July 20th Construction Thunder Bay Contact made with overhead secondary wires, no other details
1073193 given.
July 20th Construction Kitchener Concrete truck hit a hydro pole, wires knocked down.
1079203
July 21st Construction Richmond Hill Contact made with 16 kV buried cable, no other details given.
1077891
July 21st Construction Tiverton Roofer was drilling through a deck, drilled into a 347 V
1078957 lighting cable.
July 21st Construction Grimsby Dumptruck hit a 27.6 kV power line.
1079211
July 25th Construction Richmond Hill Event classified as powerline contact, no other details given.
1078526
July 28th Construction Petrolia Forklift became tangled up in a 4 kV power line.
1079799
July 28th Construction Echo Bay Flyrock from a blast hit overhead power line.
1080122
July 29th Construction Sudbury Backhoe contacted overhead power line.
1077731
July 29th Construction Municipality Cement truck contacted overhead power lines.
1078711 not given
August 3rd Construction Markham Event classified as power line contact, no other details given.
1078642
August 4th Construction London Event classified as power line contact, no other details given.
1079955
August 5th Construction Selkirk Dumptruck had raised box, dumping gravel along shoulder of
1056708 shoulder of road. Spotter lost sight of box in relation to
overhead lines, box touched the neutral, breaking it.
August 8th Construction Halton Hills Utility responded to power outage call, at the site found a
1075910 ladder between the primary and neutral wires. No one on site,
owner of ladder not known.
August 8th Construction Brampton Excavator hit buried 16 kV power line.
1077872
August 8th Construction Sarnia Fence auger hit buried cable.
1080280
August 9th Construction Toronto Equipment touched power line, no other details of event given.
1079148
August 9th Construction Burlington Contractor contacted secondary power wires, no other details
1080236 of event given.
August 11th Construction Port Burwell Dump truck operator stopped his truck under a powerline and
1080461 raised the box. Box hit line.
August 18th Construction Guelph Crew was installing anchors for a boring machine, contacted
1074390 8 kV buried power line.
August 18th Construction Thornhill Contractor dug up a 15 kV primary cable.
1079488
August 22nd Construction Concord Contractor, digging for water connection, dug up a buried
1079489 hydro cable.
August 22nd Construction Wingham Contractor dug up a buried power line.
1080539
August 22nd Construction London Backhoe took down a power line.
1082377
August 23rd Construction Brampton Contractor cut a buried power cable. Event description said
1079045 locates were off, did not say by how much.
August 23rd Construction Scarborough Scaffolding was in contact with overhead powerline.
1079047
August 23rd Construction Timmins Dump truck contacted neutral of overhead power line.
1074592
August 24th Construction Markham Contractor cut a primary cable, no other details of event given.
1079492
August 25th Construction Ottawa Contact made with buried power line, no other details given.
1078415
August 25th Construction Niagara Falls Dump truck hit 13.8 kV power line, knocked over one of the
1082618 poles.
August 29th Construction Richmond Hill Contractor dug into a 16 kV buried power line.
1079779
August 30th Construction Richmond Hill Digging equipment contacted a buried 16 kV power line.
1079781
August 30th Construction Kingston Powerline contact made, no other details given.
1083150
August 31st Construction Whitby Crane contacted 44 kV overhead line.
1080065 & 1082424 – same event
August 31st Construction London Excavator cut a buried powerline.
1082669
September 1st Construction Richmond Hill Backhoe contacted a buried powerline.
1082537
September 1st Construction Nanticoke Event classified as electrical contact, no other details of
1082726 event given.
September 6th Construction Kirkland Lake Excavator hit duct for a buried cable, cable cut.
1075792
September 6th Construction Markham Crane contacted an overhead line.
1080091
September 8th Construction Markham Concrete pumping truck contacted 16 kV power line.
1082534
September 9th Construction Toronto Scaffolding contacted powerline.
1080360
September 12th Construction Thunder Bay Doing tree-trimming at a residence, contacted the 240 V line.
1075941 No details given on what actually contacted the line.
September 13th Construction Brampton Contractor doing digging, cut a primary cable. Locates had
1079890 been done.
September 14th Construction Kingston Local utility reported that a contractor had hit a powerline,
1077641 no other details given.
September 14th Construction Welland Contractor doing augering, hit a buried powerline.
1083771
September 14th Construction London New watermain construction, buried powerline hit.
1083775 Powerline was 1.5 metres away from the marked locate.
September 15th Construction London Company doing directional drilling, hit a buried powerline.
1083776
September 15th Industrial Tiverton Workers were removing drywall from ceiling to inspect
1083781 wiring. Cut into 347 V lighting cable with saw blade.
September 16th Industrial Bruce Mines Person cutting a tree, took out a 7200 V overhead line.
1052393
September 19th Construction Aurora Contact made with 4800 V powerline, no other details
1083696 given.
September 19th Construction Guelph Grounded conductor hit an energized phase of an 8 kV
1083939 powerline.
September 26th Construction Red Lake Backhoe hit an overhead 4160 V powerline.
1052121 Spotter was being used at the time.
September 27th Construction Sudbury Conduit for buried cable was contacted, no details given
1077635 of equipment involved.
September 28th Construction Municipality Powerline contact made, no other details of event given.
1079478
September 28th Construction Mississauga Backhoe hit overhead power line.
1083030
September 28th Construction Markham Dumptruck hit cable TV lines, caused damage to overhead
1083279 power lines.
DATA SUMMARY – Third Quarter
Fatals: Criticals: Non-criticals: Powerline Electrical
Contacts: Equipment:
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…..
Nothing reported to the Ministry was sufficiently off-the-wall to be included here this quarter, although the tree-trimmer who cut off the branch he was standing on did come close.
Information taken from Ministry of Labour MIS database
Report prepared: November 18, 2005
Assembled by: Michael Reiser
Engineer
PSS – Kitchener District
Phone: (519) 883-5682
FAX: (519) 883-5694
E-Mail: mike.reiser@mol.gov.on.ca
Mike Holt’s Comment: Mr. Reiser you do an outstanding job informing us on the dangers associated with electricity. Thank you so much. By the way, do you know if someone does a similar report for the United States or world wide? If not, that’s okay, we get the picture anyway…
