"maintenance technician at the site endured several injuries ...."

 

Maintenance personnel are exposed to more safety hazards than any other personnel. Here is a recent incident highlighting maintenance personnel performing electrical maintenance.

OSHA cites (company name omitted) with 22 serious violations and proposes $182K in penalties. Across both inspections, OSHA cited (company name omitted)for 22 serious and three other-than-serious violations. Specifically, the agency found the employer:

- Failed to require employees to wear appropriately certified electrical suits while changing out electrical components in a high voltage energized area.

- Allowed workers to use non-insulated tools within approximately 12 in. of energized power lines in a high voltage energized area.

- Exposed workers to an airborne concentration of respirable silica of up to 15 times above the permissible time-weighted average.

- Failed to provide National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-approved respirators to employees exposed to silicosis hazards.

- Did not provide fit testing to workers required to wear respirators while exposed to crystalline silica.

- Failed to provide protective equipment such as goggles and gloves to workers handling chemicals.

- Did not keep an emergency eye wash station free from debris and ready for immediate use.

- OSHA has proposed $182,344 in penalties, an amount set by federal statute.

For more information, read the original release from the Department of Labor.

Six days after opening a complaint inspection at a (based auto parts manufacturer in August 2023, federal safety investigators learned that a 41-year-old maintenance technician at the site endured severe injuries from an electrical transformer explosion and opened a second investigation. 

U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators found that the worker of (company name omitted) – was severely injured by an arc flash while attempting to replace a blown fuse on a transformer and was later transported to local Hospital.

We pray that the injured worker recovers fully from their injuries.

Here is a recent article on the topic of electrical arc hazard. It can be found here.

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