Lockout/Tagout Failures: Electrical Panel Repair Results in Electrocution

Summary

This video highlights a fatal electrical accident where an electrician, working on a ship's electrical panel, was electrocuted after his left hand made contact with live bus bars. Despite deenergizing and tagging out the breaker, a cross-wired isolation breaker left the panel energized. The incident emphasizes the critical need for verifying all energy isolation points, testing electrical equipment for deenergization, and ensuring clear communication about electrical systems and modifications before work begins to prevent similar fatalities.

Takeaways

• 😀 The electrician was working on an open electrical panel on a ship to add a new cable and attach it to a breaker.
• 😀 The electrician identified the isolation breaker feeding the entire panel on the schematic drawing and deenergized it.
• 😀 Proper tagging out was performed to ensure safety before beginning work on the panel.
• 😀 While installing the new cable, the electrician's left hand made contact with the panel's main bus bars.
• 😀 A fatal electrical shock occurred when 440 volts of current passed through the electrician’s left hand, across his chest, and out his right hand.
• 😀 The electrician was unaware that the panel he was working on was not fully deenergized, due to a cross-wired breaker.
• 😀 The isolation breaker had been improperly cross-wired with another breaker, which led to the electrician’s electrocution.
• 😀 Employees must verify the location of all energy isolation points before starting work on electrical systems.
• 😀 It is essential to check or test electrical panels to ensure they are fully deenergized before working inside or near them.
• 😀 Contractors and subcontractors should be informed of any changes or modifications to the ship's systems before beginning work.
• 😀 The incident highlights the importance of thorough safety checks, including energy isolation and proper testing of electrical systems.

Q & A

What was the electrician doing when the accident occurred?

The electrician was working on an open electrical panel on a ship, installing a new cable and attaching it to a breaker within the panel.

What safety procedure did the electrician follow before starting the work?

The electrician identified the isolation breaker that fed the entire panel on the schematic drawing, de-energized the breaker, and tagged it out.

How did the accident happen despite the electrician following safety procedures?

The accident occurred because the electrician's left hand came into contact with the panel's main bus bars while fitting the new cable. The electrician did not know that the isolation breaker had been cross-wired with another breaker, and the panel was never actually de-energized.

What voltage was involved in the electrocution?

The electrician was electrocuted by 440 volts of current that passed from the bus bars through his left hand, across his chest, and out his right hand.

What was the primary contributing factor to the fatality?

The primary contributing factor was that the tagged-out isolation breaker was cross-wired with another breaker, meaning the panel was not de-energized as intended.

What safety precautions should employees take when working on electrical panels?

Employees should verify the location of all energy isolation points, and they must check or test electrical panels or electrically powered equipment to ensure they are de-energized before working inside them or near exposed electrical circuits.

What role do contractors and subcontractors play in electrical safety?

Contractors and subcontractors should be informed about the ship's systems and any modifications to those systems prior to beginning work to ensure safety.

Why is it important to verify that an electrical panel is de-energized before working on it?

It is crucial to verify that an electrical panel is de-energized to prevent accidental electrocution, as the electrical panel may not be properly isolated despite following safety protocols.

What could have prevented the accident in this scenario?

The accident could have been prevented if the electrician had tested the panel to ensure it was actually de-energized or if there was better communication regarding the cross-wiring of the breakers.

What is the lesson to be learned from this incident?

The lesson is that safety procedures must be verified through additional testing, and all workers should be fully informed about the current status and configuration of electrical systems before starting work.