Analysis of a fatal electrical injury due to improper switch operation

• Published in: Safety science Vol. 53; pp. 226 - 232
• Main Authors: Koustellis, J.D., Halevidis, C.D., Polykrati, A.D., Bourkas, P.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.03.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidents; Biological and medical sciences; Contact; Contact with power line; Educational psychology; Electric fuses; Electric power generation; Electric wire; Electrical accident; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health and safety; Insulators; Insulator’s mechanical failure; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Networks; Occupational accidents; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Pupil and student. Academic achievement and failure; Switching theory; Transformers; Greece; Europe; Occupational accidents; Health and safety; Insulator’s mechanical failure; Electrical accident; Contact with power line; Human; Insulator's mechanical failure; Injury; Operation; Failures; Trauma; Contact; Case study; Occupational accident; Work safety; Death; Repair; Occupational medicine; Power transmission line
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2012.10.005

► Electrician tried to change the single pole fuse of an outdoor transformer on a pylon. ► The insulator of the phase broke resulting in the release of the power distribution wire. ► The technician came into contact with the loose wire and suffered an electric shock. ► The technician did not follow basic safety rules and closed the switch with an unorthodox method. ► Technical and organizational proposals are made to reduce future accidents. Electrical accidents are significant causes of occupational fatalities in the world. The analysis carried out in this paper refers to a real accident that occurred in Greece during the repair work carried out on a medium voltage transformer of the Public Power Corporation (PPC). While attempting to restore the electrical power, the electrician climbed the pylon where the transformer was placed and tried to change the single pole fuse. The insulator of the phase broke, resulting in the release of the power distribution wire. The technician came into contact with the loose wire with his lower limb and suffered an electric shock. For a better understanding of the incident, a description of the distribution network is given. Furthermore, emphasis has been laid on possible ways to avoid similar accidents in the future.