Selected Electrical Accidents and Incidents
Third Quarter - July to September, 2000
Date & ProgramLocation Accident Description
MIS ID #
Accidents - Fatal:
August 10thConstructionSimcoeUtility worker electrocuted from contact with 8000 volts.
72777 & 77481Worker was in bucket of truck with insulated boom, one
hydraulic hose from truck to bucket was not of insulative
type. Suspicion is that the hose provided a path to ground
from the bucket.
August 27thIndustrialAthensWorker was found face down in a puddle of water, with
73360electrical burn marks on his chest and hands. In the vicinity
of the worker was a length of cable, permanently wired into an
electrical panel. The other end of the cable had the conductors
terminated in alligator clips. When the worker was found, the
breaker controlling power to this cable was in the ON position,
and needed to be turned OFF before rescue operations could
begin.
Accidents - Critical:
July 26thIndustrialCambridgeWorker was replacing a breaker in a 600 volt breaker panel.
72399A riser slipped along the buss bar and touched another riser.
Resulting arc caused severe burns to worker’s face and arms.
August 16thConstructionGeorgina Worker operating a sanitation boom truck (sucker pump type)
73056Townshipusing a boom control device. Boom contacted 4800 volt line,
giving worker a burn on the thumb of hand holding the device.
Current caused truck tires to start to burn.
August 16thIndustrialStrathroyWorker contacted a high voltage line while driving a cement
73584truck, delivering cement to a farm. Worker lost consciousness,
received burns to feet, arms and a shoulder.
September 15thIndustrialKitchenerWorker received shock while putting a load on a crane, lost
(75065, 75132, 75135 – all same event)consciousness. Checking of equipment after accident could
not find a problem with the equipment.
September 21stIndustrialOttawaTwo workers changing a 200 amp breaker on a 600 V circuit.
74167Explosion and fire, one worker received 3rd degree burns to
arm, 2nd degree burns to legs. Was wearing face and hand
protective equipment.
Accidents - Non-Critical:
July 3rdConstructionLaSalleWorker using drill to drill into concrete ceiling, drill bit went
74471through ceiling, hit puddle of water above ceiling. Water went
through the hole, shorted out the drill. Worker received shock
from drill, GFCI not in use.
July 6thConstructionTorontoUtility worker working on 13.8 kV duct when it blew up.
71761Worker suffered flash burns, was wearing flash glasses and
electrical gloves.
July 12thIndustrialKitchenerWorker was plugging in the brush cleaner for a conveyor,
73811received an electrical shock. Electrician found a fault to
ground on the cleaner.
July 13thIndustrialGuelphWorker received shock from electrostatic printer. Taken to
73686hospital and released.
July 14thIndustrialBalaWorker was told that he was struck by lightning. No other
72576details of accident given. Employer was a marina.
July 15thIndustrialWestonWorker working on main electrical panel, sustained first
75001degree burns to arms and hands. No information given on
panel voltage or work being done.
July 17thConstructionThunder BayWorker received electric shock while taking out a heat pump.
73163Received burn to right thumb.
July 21stIndustrialNorth YorkElectrician was working in an apartment building. An
73874electrical related accident occurred, electrician sent to hospital,
kept overnight and released. Power out to entire building.
July 26thConstructionWalpole IslandWorker contacted the 120/240 service to a house. Worker
74451checked out at hospital and released.
July 28thIndustrialNewmarketWorker changing light bulb when he touched a live wire,
72426causing him to fall off ladder. Worker has burn on left hand.
August 1stIndustrialMississaugaWorkers checking out a fuse in a panel, panel exploded.
72502Workers received burns to head and hands.
August 1stConstructionLaurentianWorkers using a boom truck, truck contacted a hydro wire.
74080ValleyTruck caught on fire, workers suffered electrical shock.
August 2ndConstructionMississaugaWorker was digging a hole with an electric drill. Loose switch
72549caused contact, worker taken to hospital with cardiac
arrhythmia.
August 7thMiningTimminsCell cleaner was doing regular duties when injured by
73522electrical current. No details given on the nature of the
electrical contact.
August 8thConstructionPickeringWorker drilling into a concrete floor, hit a hidden electrical
73772wire. Injuries not serious.
August 10thIndustrialNewcastleWorking on a 600 volt panel, received a shock.
73095
August 12thConstructionBramptonElectrician working in a fuse box when he contacted a live
72907Worker received a shock, no other injuries reported.
August 12thConstructionHamiltonMobile crane contacted 13.8 kV conductor. A worker suffered
74923burns to one hand.
August 13thIndustrialMosa TownshipProperty resident was trimming a tree, part of tree contacted a
735354800 volt power line. Person was taken to hospital, no details
given as to the nature of the injuries.
August 16thConstructionSt. ThomasWorker doing welding on a steel pipe, received an electrical
76599shock and burned spot on the arm.
August 25thIndustrialTorontoWorker changing a light bulb in a refrigerator display console.
75085Refrigerator was still plugged in, worker received a shock and
and a minor burn to thumb.
August 28thConsructionGuelphWorker received flash burns to eyes, no electrical contact
75551made. No details given about work being done.
August 31stIndustrialWhitbyWorker put screwdriver into 600 amp circuit, explosion and
74027fire occurred. No information given as to what worker was
trying to do with the screwdriver.
September 6thIndustrialSt. ThomasWorker plugged in a TOASTMASTER and received an
75691electrical shock.
September 8thConstructionThoroldWorker was using shovel, made electrical contact. No details
74584given as to work being done or nature of injuries.
September 12thIndustrialBurlingtonWorker received a shock while removing the oil filter from a
75836car. Reported minor numbness.
Reportable Incidents - Powerline Contacts:
July 4thConstructionTorontoCrane contacted overhead power lines.
71699
July 4thConstructionMathesonTruck contacted Bell line, Bell cable broke and swung into the
72396hydro cable, causing a power outage.
July 7thConstructionBeamsvilleExcavator contacted the neutral wire of a power line.
72446
July 7thConstruction BrockvilleTruck contacted overhead power line. No details given about
74958type of truck or voltage of power line.
July 10thConstructionEtobicokeScaffold was too close to wiring, two phases contacted.
71846
July 12thConstructionWainfleetContractor tore down overhead wires. No details given about
72455type of equipment involved or voltage of power line.
July 12thConstructionOakvilleCrane contacted 4 kV overhead line.
73378
July 17thConstructionRegan TownshipDump truck hit power line while dumping.
72093
July 20thConstructionStrathroyDuring tree cutting, tree contacted overhead power line
73520
July 22ndConstructionSt. CatherinesHydro contact – 13.8 kV buried cable. No other details given.
72742
July 24thConstructionMt AlbertElectrical contact with 4800 volt cable. No other details
72280given.
July 26thConstructionMarkhamElectrical contact with 16 kV buried cable. No details given
72378of equipment involved.
July 26thConstructionLakeshoreExcavator digging a basement, dug up a 16 kV cable. Locate
74012information not properly followed.
July 31stMiningTimmins85 ton haulage truck tore down overhead power line. Event
72475details specified power line voltage as 138,000 volts.
August 2ndConstructionSault Ste MarieDump truck pulled down a Bell line, which pulled down a
72683pole, causing a 7200 volt power line to break.
August 2ndConstructionBeetonBoom truck contacted power line while unloading material.
72887
August 5thConstructionTrentonWorker using an excavator, contacted a 600 volt buried cable.
73033
August 8thConstructionGuelphContractor’s backhoe contacted an overhead line.
75071
August 10thConstructionOttawaSecondary of power line cut on a construction project. No
74489details given of equipment involved or work being done.
August 14thConstructionThunder BayEvent classified as power line contact. No information given
73107as to equipment involved or work being done.
August 17thConstructionKitchenerWorker hit a buried cable while digging. No locates done.
74319
August 18thConstructionMillbrookWell drilling rig contacted a 4800 volt power line.
74307
August 19thConstructionNo city locationEvent categorized as electrical occurrence. No other
73385given.information given.
August 20thMiningTimminsDump truck hit power line.
73111
August 21stIndustrialBrockville Haulage truck contacted overhead power line.
75401
August 24thConstructionVaughanContacted 8 kV power line. No details about equipment
73271involved.
August 25thConstructionThunder BayContractor doing blasting, blasted an underground line.
73623No locates done.
August 25thConstructionSault Ste. MarieConstructor knocked down a power line.
73668
August 25thConstructionPercy TownshipConstructor pulled down a power line.
73900
August 27thConstructionNorth BayBoom of backhoe contacted neutral of overhead line.
73356
August 31stConstructionMiltonExcavator contacted 120/240 overhead line.
74305
September 5thIndustrialKingstonContacted 115 kV overhead power line.
75484
September 6thConstructionWaterlooEvent classified as power line contact. No other details given.
75170
September 7thConstructionNorth BayEvent classified as power line contact. No other details given.
75244
September 8thConstructionWest GarafraxaWorkers doing road work, touched the lower power line,
75647knocked off the power. No details about equipment involved.
September 11thConstructionAtikokanBackhoe contacted 240 volt overhead line.
74025
September 11thConstructionPort ColborneContractor dug up 16 kV underground cable.
74445
September 16thConstructionSarniaBoom contacted secondary of power line.
75711
September 18thConstructionCornwallShovel contacted overhead electrical line.
75306
September 19thConstructionMississaugaContractor’s backhoe cut a 1300 volt power line.
74095
September 20thConstructionConcordEvent classified as electrical contact, no other details given.
74122
September 29thConstructionRichmond HillConstruction work being done when 120 volt cable contacted.
74468Traffic lights taken out.
DATA SUMMARY - Third Quarter
Fatals:Critical:Non-criticals:PowerlineElectrical
Contacts:Equipment:
20002 526420
199931124400
199851313402
Information taken from MIS database, February 12, 2001
Produced by:Michael Reiser
Engineer
PSS – Kitchener District
Phone:(519) 883-5682
FAX:(519) 883-5694
E-Mail:
Electrical Accident Survey - Third Quarter, 2000page1