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TO: Division Safety Research
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
FROM: Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Project
New Jersey Department Health and Senior Services
SUBJECT: Face Investigation #96-NJ-042-01
Electrical Testing Laboratory Technician Killed After Contacting 26,000 Volts
and Falling From Ladder
DATE: November 25, 1996
SUMMARY
On June 18, 1996, 45-year-old laboratory technician was killed when contacted 26,000 volts
and fell from rolling ladder while disassembling experiment.
. The incident occurred a
cable testing laboratory that tested samples high-voltage electrical cables. Neglecting first deenergize the experiment, the
victim climbed ten-foot metal rolling ladder the cables and contacted the live 26,000 volt
electrical circuit. FACE investigators concluded that, prevent similar
incidents the future, these safety guidelines should followed:
* Employees must throughly trained the safe handling electrical circuits.
* The laboratory should consider redesigning their electrical safety interlock system. The laboratory had
just completed artificially aging several samples electrical cable running current through
the cable while was immersed water.
* Employers should aware educational and training resources for health and safety
information. The shock immediately threw him from the ladder, causing him fall and
strike his head the concrete floor.
* Employers should develop, implement, and enforce electrical lock-out/ tag-out program. technician was instructed disassemble the
experiment the cables could examined
