Selected Electrical Incidents and Occurrences in Canada

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Selected Electrical Incidents and Occurrences in Canada

Second Quarter - April to June, 2008

Date             Program      Location      Incident Description

Fatalities:

May 29^th                 Construction         Hamilton                Journeyman electrician was working on lighting circuit, made

                                                                                                contact with energized conductor.

Critical Injuries:

April 30^th                Construction         Toronto                 Roofing company worker was moving roof-mounted HVAC

                                                                                                unit.  Made contact with electrical wires, lost consciousness.

                                                                                                Worker taken to hospital, voltage of wires not given.

May 26^th                 Construction         Toronto                Project was removal of furnace A/C unit from roof of building.

                                                                                                During the process, a worker made contact with 600 volt

                                                                                                energized wire, lost consciousness for a short time.  Worker

                                                                                                taken to hospital then released the same day.

May 30^th                 Industrial               Toronto                 Workers dismantling an electrical panel, panel blew up.

                                                                                                One worker had burns to about 50% of his body, other worker

                                                                                                had burns to face and right hand.

June 17^th                  Industrial                Brampton            Worker using scissor lift to repair light fixtures.  Received an

                                                                                                electrical shock, had burn injuries to both hands.  Voltage of

                                                                                                light fixtures not given.

June 17^th                  Construction          Prescott              Worker carrying a ladder, made contact with hydro wire.

                                                                                                Was knocked unconscious for a short time, taken to hospital

                                                                                                for observation.  Voltage of overhead line not given.

Non-Critical Injuries:

April 2^nd                 Construction         Mississauga         Worker received a shock while disconnecting a machine.

                                                                                                No other details of event given.

April 3^rd                  Construction         Midland                 Worker installing a signpost, hit buried 2400 volt cable.

                                                                                                Worker taken to hospital, extent of injuries not given.

April 11^th                Industrial               Strathroy               Worker received a shock when touched the metal part of some

                                                                                                scaffolding.  Details of object energizing scaffold not given.

April 11^th                Construction         Toronto                 Worker trying to reset power at temporary power distribution

                                                                                                unit.  While resetting the breaker, worker touched panel

                                                                                                enclosure, received a shock.

April 11^th                Industrial               Toronto                 Electrical apprentice running electrical wires, grabbed one of

                                                                                                the live ones by mistake.  Has deep burn on one hand.

April 13^th                Industrial               Campbellford        Worker working in electrical panel, arc happened.  Worker

                                                                                                received burns to his hands, drove himself to the hospital.

April 18^th                Industrial               Kenora                   Worker on hydro pole, electrical arc hit pole.  Arc came down

                                                                                                pole to a spike in the pole, went to worker’s hand from spike.

                                                                                                Worker climbed down pole himself, was taken to hospital for

                                                                                                observation then released.  Overhead line voltage was 14.4 kV,

                                                                                                worker was in the “safety zone” as per procedures.

April 22^nd               Industrial               Brantford               Worker contacted 600 volts, taken to hospital.  No other

                                                                                                details of event given.

April 25^th                Construction         Ottawa                   Worker made contact with 347 volt conductors, taken to

                                                                                                hospital.  Details of work being done at the time not given.

May 14^th                 Industrial               Vaughan               Flashing light on electric “QuickCart” was not working. 

                                                                                                Worker tried to fix problem himself, received shock from cart

                                                                                                power supply.  Worker shaken up, taken to hospital.

May 16^th                 Industrial               Vaughan               Worker connecting battery for charge.  Had electrical contact,

                                                                                                received burns to both hands and brief loss of vision.

June 5^th                   Mining                   Sudbury                 Worker was on a swing stage, stage was being lowered at the

                                                                                                time.  Worker made electrical contact on his lower leg, no

                                                                                                details given on the source of the current.

June 11^th               Industrial                Dundas                  Worker touched a live wire with his finger, has burn mark on

                                                                                                tip of left middle finger.  No other details given of event.

June 13^th                Industrial               Toronto                 Worker was using an electric welder.  Made sure unit was off,

                                                                                                then walked between unit and building steel.  Received a

                                                                                                shock, taken to hospital for observation.  No information given

                                                                                                on source of the electrical energy.

June 17^th               Construction         Tiverton                 Worker received a tingle from contact with the filament of a

                                                                                                broken light bulb.  GFCI on the circuit tripped.  Worker had

                                                                                                slight redness on skin of upper arm.

June 19^th               Industrial               Sault Ste. Marie    Worker using a floor buffer, received a shock when he went to

                                                                                                move the cord.  Worker taken to hospital then released.

June 22^nd                Mining                   Dubreuilville         Lightning hit a blasting cable, setting off the blast prematurely.

                                                                                                One worker had numbness in his ears from the blast.

June 26^th               Industrial               Vaughan                 Worker using a metal lathe, received a shock.  Worker taken to

                                                                                                hospital, had difficulty breathing.

June 30^th               Construction         Hamilton                Worker received a shock from energized wires.  Details of

                `                                                                               work being done at the time, and the voltage of the wires was

                                                                                                not given.

Powerline Contacts – No Injuries:

April 3^rd                  `Industrial              Hamilton                Contact made with 240 volt cable, no other details given.

April 7^th                  Construction         Brampton               16 kV buried cables severed, equipment not specified.

April 7^th                  Construction        West Gwillimbury                Excavator contacted overhead 48 kV power line.

                                                                Township

April 8^th                  Construction         Oakville                  Contractor had proper locates, still hit a 120 volt cable.

April 8^th                  Industrial               Etobicoke              Truck being moved while boom was extended, 600 volt

                                                                                                cable contacted.

April 10^th                Construction         Ottawa                   Large shovel made contact with buried cable, voltage not

                                                                                                given.

April 14^th                Construction         Alliston                  Dump truck passing under overhead lines, box caught neutral

                                                                                                of line.  Line voltage not given.

April 14^th                Construction         Oakville                  Sign being pounded into ground, post hit buried cable.

April 14^th                Construction         Richmond              Large shovel dug into primary buried cable, severing it.

April 16^th                Construction         Toronto                 Worker drilling through concrete, hit 240 volt cable.

April 17^th                Construction         Winchester           Worker using auger, hit 600 volt cable.  Locates not

                                                                                                accurate.

April 18^th                Construction         Thunder Bay         Contractor felling and removing trees, contacted buried

                                                                                                240 volt cable.

April 18^th                Construction         Thunder Bay         Crew dug up a de-energized buried cable.  Locates had been

                                                                                                done, did not pick up the de-energized cable.

April 19^th                Mining                   Sudbury                 Worker cut into cable, tool contacted 110 volt conductor.

                                                                                                No electrical contact by worker himself.

April 23^rd                Construction         Kingston               Backhoe pulled up primary cable.

April 24^th                Construction         Ottawa                   Electrical contact made, no other details given.

May 5^th                   Construction         Hamilton                Contact made with buried 240 volt cable, no other details

                                                                                                of event given.

May 6^th                   Construction         Stoney Creek        Driver hit utility pole, no other details of event given.

May 9^th                   Industrial               Hamilton                Contact made with 240 volt buried cable, no other details

                                                                                                of event given.

May 12^th                 Construction         Stouffville              Digging at intersection, hit buried cable.  Voltage of cable

                                                                                                not given.

May 13^th                 Construction         Thunder Bay         Cutting concrete floor, hit 208 volt cable.  No locates or floor

                                                                                                scan done.

May 14^th                 Construction         Tecumseh              Trenching equipment hit buried primary cable. Locates had

                                                                                                been done, still hit the cable.

May 15^th                 Construction         Burlington             Excavator being serviced, boom contacted overhead power

                                                                                                line, voltage of line not given.

May 20^th                 Construction         Dundas                  Contact made with 240 volt overhead line, no other details

                                                                                                of event given.

May 20^th                 Construction         Southampton        Boring a trench, severed a 240 volt buried cable.

May 21^st                 Industrial               Crystal Beach       Crane being used to remove tree limbs, one limb hit

                                                                                                hydro wires.

May 22^nd                Construction         Thunder Bay         Power line contacted, no other details given.

May 22^nd                Construction         Brampton               Backhoe hit buried 16 kV cable.

May 23^rd                Construction         St. Catharines       Contact made with 240 volt buried cable, no other details

                                                                                                of event given

May 23^rd                Construction         Sarnia                     Forklift being used to move scaffolding components, during

                                                                                                one of the moves a piece of scaffolding hit an electrical

                                                                                                conduit.  Voltage of cable in conduit not given.

May 27^th                 Mining                   Cambridge             Raised box of haulage truck hit neutral of power line,

                                                                                                broke the conductor.

May 28^th                 Construction         Peterborough        Excavator backing up, hit overhead lines and snapped a

                                                                                                pole.

May 28^th                 Construction         London                  Worker using post-hole digger, hit buried 4 kV cable.  Locates

                                                                                                were 2 months old, lines had faded.

May 29^th                 Construction         Tiverton                 Worker’s tool made contact with 110 volt cable.  No info

                                                                                                given on work being done at the time.

May 30^th                 Farming                  Hudson                  Tractor doing spraying, arm of sprayer hit hydro line. 

                                                                Township              Voltage of line not given.

May 30^th                 Construction         Mississauga         Truck backing up, hit hydro pole.  Wires knocked off top of

                                                                                                pole.

May 30^th                 Construction         Marmora                Residential service line hit, no other details given.

June 2^nd                  Construction         Stoney Creek        Contact made with 240 volt cable, no other details given.

June 2^nd                  Construction         Clifford                   Truck hit guy wire for pole, shaking caused lines to touch and

                                                                                                breaker to trip.

June 2^nd                  Construction         Aylmer                   Excavator dug up a 16 kV buried cable.

June 3^rd                  Industrial               Wellesley              Dump truck hit overhead power line, voltage not given.

June 7^th                   Construction         Thunder Bay         Excavator hit electrical pole, snapped it off.

June 7^th                   Construction         Cambridge             Worker using an aauger, cut the 240 volt buried cable to a

                                                                                                residence.  No locates.

June 11^th                 Construction         Niagara Falls         Contact made with powerline, no other details of event given.

June 12^th                 Construction         Richmond Hill       Backhoe contacted 27.6 kV buried cable.

June 12^th                 Construction         Mississauga         Worker cut through conduit with SAWSALL, cable inside

                                                                                                conduit was still energized at 347 volts.  Fortunately, just had

                                                                                                to replace the blade on the saw.

June 13^th                 Industrial               Hamilton                Crane boom hit 13 kV overhead powerline.

June 16^th                 Construction         Toronto                 Trolley of tower crane went to end of boom, hit power line.

June 16^th                 Industrial               Belleville                Raised box of dumptruck hit powerline.

June 17^th                 Industrial               Sarnia                     Front end loader pushed some trees into the powerline.

June 18^th                 Industrial               Hamilton                Contact made with overhead 240 volt cable, no other details

                                                                                                given.

June 19^th                 Construction         Ottawa                   Boom truck contacted overhead power lines, voltage of lines

                                                                                                not given.

June 19^th                 Construction         Cornwall                Contact made with buried cable, no other details given.

June 20^th                 Construction         Cambridge             Worker sawing through roof, hit electrical conduit holding a

                                                                                                110 volt cable.

June 20^th                 Construction         Port Elgin               Backhoe hit 240 volt buried cable.  No locates.

June 23^rd                Construction         Port Elgin               Forklift being used to try to tow a stuck vehicle.  Mast of

                                                                                                forklift contacted neutral of overhead line, tore it down.

June 23^rd                Construction         Hamilton                Raised box of dump truck hit residential overhead line.

June 25^th                 Construction         King City               Excavator contacted buried power line, Voltage of line

                                                                                                not given.

June 25^th                 Construction         Sault Ste Marie     Truck pulled down the BELL cable and the cable TV lines.

                                                                                                Poles shook, power outage occurred.

June 26^th                Construction         Belleville                Event classified as electrical occurrence, no other details

                                                                                                given.

June 26^th                Construction         Hamilton                Contact made with overhead 240 volt line, no other details

                                                                                                given.

June 26^th                Construction         Trenton                  Contractor doing pipeline work, knocked down an overhead

                                                                                                line.

June 27^th                Construction         Hamilton                Worker nicked a buried cable, equipment involved not given.

June 27^th                Construction         Kitchener               Contractor hit 14 kV line, blew the fuses.  Details of

                                                                                                equipment involved not given.

June 27^th                Construction         Ajax                        Workers doing core drilling, drill contacted 120 volt cable.

                                                                                                Floor had been scanned, scan said area was clear of electrics.

Electrical Equipment – No Injuries:

April 30^th                Construction         Tiverton                 “An electrician for ***** Construction was carrying a

                                                                                                cable, stripped at both ends through the service area

                                                                                                doorway.  One side of the wire was held back on the

                                                                                                doorway and sprung forward permitting the ground wire

                                                                                                to enter the lower ventilation grid of a 600 to 208/120 step

                                                                                                down transformer making contact with one of the 600V

                                                                                                phases.  No injuries.”

                                                                                                The above is the event description as given to the MOL.

                                                                                                Honest.

May 6^th                   Mining                   Sudbury                 Worker was washing down a second level deck, noticed flames

                                                                                                at a receptacle on the floor below him.

                                                                                                Water and electricity – not a good mix.

DATA SUMMARY - Second Quarter

                                Fatals:                    Criticals:              Non-criticals:                       Powerline              Electrical

                                                                                                                                                Contacts:               Equipment:

2008                            1                                5                                 19                                        65                             2

2007                            2                                7                                 23                                        74                             1

2006                            3                                5                                 30                                        53                             1

2005                            4                                9                                 17                                        60                             0

2004                            3                                4                                 16                                        48                             0

2003                            3                                7                                 25                                        39                             0

2002                            1                                9                                 17                                        28                             1

2001                            1                              13                                12                                        32                             2

2000                            2                                5                                 22                                        34                             1

1999                            2                                9                                 22                                        32                             0

1998                            2                                4                                 17                                        30                             0

And Finally…..

Nothing sufficiently off-the-wall this quarter to be included here, although the worker who thought he could stop a free-wheeling truck going down a slope by jumping in front of it was a close contender.  Stay tuned.

Information taken from Ontario Ministry of Labour MIS database

Report prepared: August 27, 2008

Assembled by:     Mike Reiser, P. Eng.,

                                Engineer,

                                PSS-Kitchener District

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