Worker Burns Hand Operating a High Voltage Switch Under Load
Incident Investigation
Worker Burns Hand Operating a High Voltage Switch Under Load
June 30, 2022
Electrical
Reference Number:
II-140058-2022(#28573)
Location: Terrace, BC
Regulated industry sector: Electrical – High voltage electrical system (greater than 750 V)
Incident Overview
At a wood mill, a member of the cleaning crew, with no electrical qualifications, switched on a high voltage (2200V 3Ph) electrical switch for a whole log chipper while it was turned on and under load after it had been locked out. The worker’s hand was burnt by escaping arc gasses and flames coming through a damaged door gasket.