Arc Flash Seriously Injures Ottawa Electrician

February 2, 2017

On January 23, an arc flash event occurred while an electrician was installing a cable into an energized panel in the Ottawa area. The electrician was treated in hospital for second and third degree burns. 

This incident is an example of the continuation of a worrisome trend in which electricians are injured or killed on-the-job. While the precise cause of the incident is under investigation, it serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of coming into contact with live voltage.

Electrical safety is a shared responsibility among workers and employers, says Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). It’s critical to work together to help prevent these types of incidents from occurring. Ensuring electrical work is done in a de-energized state is the single most effective way to prevent electrical-related injuries and fatalities.

According to ESA safety data,

• between 2006 and 2015, 40 workers died and another 127 workers were critically injured from electrical contact

• repair and maintenance work continues to be the most common type of activity associated with electrical-related fatalities and injuries on-the-job

• on average there is one electrical worker fatality per year in Ontario, and more than 5,500 visits to the emergency room caused by critical electrical-related occupational injuries

The most effective way to prevent electrical injuries and fatalities is shutting off power before conducting electrical work.