Trainer view
Print or save as PDF from your browser (⌘P / Ctrl+P).
← Standard view
Case study · MSHA Record #219832910050
Electrician fatality
October 5, 1983 at 7:00 AM
Central Machine Shop
· Westmoreland Coal Company
· Wise County, VA
Investigator narrative
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.
Record details
- Classification
- ELECTRICAL
- Accident type
- Contact with electrical current
- Activity at time
- Electrical Maintenance
- Subunit / location
- INDEPENDENT SHOPS OR YARDS
- 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
- Mine type
- Facility
- Sector
- Coal
Similar incidents in MSHA records
· same classification: ELECTRICAL
-
September 13, 2025 · Tower Rock Stone Company · MO · Electrician
Miner was on first floor of "New Office" working on a ladder changing a light. Miners co-worker went to basement to retrieve another new light. Co-worker heard a thump and a bang on the ceiling. Co-worker found miner sitting slumped on the floor unresponsive. Started CPR, called 911, deployed AED but the miner could…
-
July 26, 2025 · Stillwater Mining Company · MT · Electrician
The employee was performing routine preventative maintenance on a transformer when EE was fatally electrocuted.
-
August 9, 2024 · Buzzi Unicem USA · TX · Master Mechanic
Arc flash event involving electrical equipment that resulted in burns to the employee's arms and torso as well as electrical equipment damage. The employee was injured and hospitalized after the incident but, passed away in the hospital on 08/22/2024.