F.A.C.E.
INVESTIGATION REPORT
Fatality Assessment and Control
Evaluation Project
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Occupational Disease and Injury Services
P.O. Box 360
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0360
(609) 984-1863
FACE #95-NJ-080-01
Electrical Helper Electrocuted After Contacting
460 Volts While Servicing an Overhead Light Fixture
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TO: Division of Safety Research
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
FROM: Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Project
New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH)
SUBJECT: Face Investigation #95-NJ-080-01
Electrical Helper Electrocuted After Contacting 460 Volts While
Servicing an Overhead Light Fixture
DATE:
March 18, 1996
SUMMARY
On August 1, 1995, a 36-year-old electrician’s helper was electrocuted after cutting an electrical
wire carrying 460 volts. The incident occurred in a retail store fitting room where the victim and
a co-worker were replacing the overhead flourescent light tubes and ballast transformers. The
victim had set up a fiberglass ladder in a fitting room and was standing on it as he cut a wire with
an insulated wire cutter. As he cut the live wire, he contacted the energized metal cutter while
leaning against the grounded metal fitting room door frame. A co-worker saw the victim being
shocked and broke the contact by clipping the wire, at which time the victim collapsed against the
door frame. NJDOH FACE investigators concluded that, in order to prevent similar incidents in
the future, these safety guidelines should be followed:
o Employers should ensure that company lock-out/tag-out procedures are strictly enforced.
o Only properly trained and authorized employees should be permitted to work on live electrical
circuits.
o All electrical workers should be trained in electrical rescue techniques and cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
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INTRODUCTION
On August 2, 199