Electrician fatality at Central Machine Shop (Westmoreland Coal Company), VA, October 5, 1983

AN INSULATOR BROKE DURING SWITCH THROW OPERATION ALLOWING THE SWITCHING ARM TO CONTACT THE SWITCH STRUCTURE AND BASE CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FAULT IN THE 34.5 KV SYSTEM. THE INJURED, ALTHOUG H WEARING PRESCRAIBED APROTECTIVE GLOVES, APPARENTLY CONTACTED THE SWITCH THROW HANDLE DURING THE FAULT CONDITION IN THE AREA OF HIS CHEST, A FINDING INDICATED BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS REPORT.

Activity at time of incident

Electrical Maintenance

Subunit / location

INDEPENDENT SHOPS OR YARDS

Accident type

Contact with electrical current

Source of injury

CONDCTR,ELCT,CBL,TROL POL

Nature of injury

ELECT SHOCK,ELECTROCUTION

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

8 years

Experience at this mine

8 years

Experience in this job

5 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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