District 5 - Coal Mine Safety and Health
A Near Miss
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A serious accident occurred at 9:30 p.m. on October 29, 2001. A qualified electrician received an electrical shock while performing work on an energized 13,800 VAC fuse holder for the mine fan circuit. The electrician de-energized and locked and tagged the wrong gang-operated switch. He then climbed a 25- foot ladder and proceeded to dismantle the fuse holder. He received an electrical shock and consequently fell from the ladder. The electrician sustained electrical burns on the left hand and right leg and crushed a vertebra as a result of the fall.
Best Practices
- Always label disconnecting devices that are not identifiable by location.
- Always de-energize and ground all non-grounded high-voltage conductors before performing any work.
- Always lockout and tag disconnecting devices before performing work.
