A POWER company has been fined £275,000 over the death of an electrical engineer.

John Higgins died from horrific injuries while carrying out maintenance work at an electricity sub-station.

As the 59-year-old UK Power Networks engineer worked on a piece of equipment, there was an explosion at the site in Chelmsford and he was engulfed in burning oil.

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Bender Enterprises Inc., based in Union, with three repeat violations for continuing to expose workers to electrical hazards at a Fort Lee work site. OSHA’s June investigation was initiated following a referral from the Fort Lee Police Department when a worker was injured while servicing an electrical panel. Proposed penalties total $41,580.

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited AAA Professional Lawn Care Inc. for seven alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards in connection with the July 30 death of a worker who was performing tree trimming work at 5 Country View Drive in Johnston. The worker was fatally shocked when the aluminum pruner he was using came into contact with an energized 7,200-volt overhead power line.

An investigation by OSHA’s Providence Area Office found that the employer failed to de-energize or ground the power line before the work was begun, as well as to provide protective shields, barriers or insulating materials to protect workers from shocks, burns or other electrical-related injuries. In addition, the pruner was not insulated and was used within 10 feet of the power line, the employee lacked both proper training and protective gloves, and the employer did not institute work practices to reduce the electrical hazard. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

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A contractor, doing business as Modern Painting and Decorating, has been sentenced to one year of probation after being found guilty of the willful violation of an OSHA regulation. Thomas Caruso, the contractor, hired Paul Thompson to paint the Habitat for Humanity building in New Kensington, PA. After being given a brief warning about the power lines that run close to the building, Paul was sent to the roof to paint with no further safety training and no protective gear. When his extended painting pole came in to contact with the power lines, he was fatally electrocuted.

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“A construction worker was badly injured this morning when he came in contact with a powerful electrical line while on a job in western Henrico County.

Henrico Fire & EMS Capt. Jim Mellon said the victim, who is in his mid 20s, was in critical condition when he was taken to VCU Medical Center.

Mellon said authorities were called at 9:14 a.m. after the construction worker was moving a piece of scaffolding and came in contact with a power line while at a job site in the 1600 block of Harborough Road, a short distance south of Mills Godwin High School.

The power line was transmitting 19,900 volts of electricity, Mellon said.

More than 100 Dominion Virginia Power customers lost electricity as a result of the accident, Mellon said.”

 Source: Richmond Times Dispatch

In two separate incidents, two garbage trucks in Ystradgynlais, a town in Wales, touched power lines while picking up garbage at the curb. The city has been found negligent and has been ordered to pay a fine. Please click on the link to read more.

Two Shakopee Public Utilities employees remain hospitalized after their four-member crew was injured Monday morning while performing scheduled maintenance on a utility line near the women’s prison. 

Shakopee Public Utilities Finance Director Renee Schmid told the Valley News the extent of the injuries is unknown, but she later told the Star Tribune the injuries are not considered life-threatening. 

“They’re both awake and talking,” Schmid reportedly said of the unnamed employees late Monday afternoon.

At 6:45 p.m., Schmid emailed the Valley News that the workers continued to be treated at the Hennepin County Medical Center.  ”I do not have any further information at this time,” she said. 

Asked earlier about a report that the incident was caused by something caused an “arc flash,” Schmid would only say that the cause of the accident and what actually happened was still being investigated.

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We have updated our article “Arc Flash Hazard – The Basics”. This is an easy to understand discussion of what Arc Flash Hazards are and what you need to know. We have updated it based upon the new NFPA 70E - 2012 “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace”. Tell us what you think! More articles can be found at http://www.powerstudies.com/articles.htm