Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Electrician Electrocuted When He Contacts Energized Conductor in a Manhole in Virginia.

摘要

A 24-year-old male electrician was electrocuted when he inadvertently contacted a 2,300- volt, 6.6-amp conductor. The incident occurred while the victim was working inside a manhole splicing a conductor. The victim and a co-worker were part of a six-person crew assigned to install a new lighting system at an airport. The system consisted of three circuits: (1) an energized 2,300- volt, 6.6-amp runway lighting circuit; (2) an energized 700-volt temporary taxiway lighting circuit; and (3) a de-energized taxiway lighting circuit. The victim entered the manhole through a 24-inch-diameter manway opening and descended a metal ladder attached to the inside of the 5-foot-square by 7- foot-deep concrete manhole. The victim removed a pair of insulated side (wire) cutters from his tool belt to prepare the de-energized taxiway lighting conductor for splicing. He cut a size 8 AWG conductor which was hanging over a rung of the metal ladder without determining whether or not the circuit was energized. The conductor, which was part of the energized runway lighting circuit, separated into two pieces. The energized end came in contact with the back of the victim's right hand. Current passed through the victim's right hand and exited his right thigh at the point where it was in contact with the grounded metal ladder.