COAL MINE FATALITY - On Friday, February 18, 2000, an electrical contractor was fatally injured when he contacted 1 phase of a 7200 volt, 3-phase, energized overhead conductor in a high voltage substation. The victim and a company project manager had entered the surface substation to determine how best to remove the defective transformer and prepare it for transportation to a repair facility. The victim had climbed to the top of the de-energized transformer when the back of his head came in contact with the energized conductor.

Photograph of Accident Scene BEST PRACTICES All circuits should be de-energized before work is started. Only qualified persons should perform work on electric distribution circuits and equipment. A suitable hard hat should be worn where overhead hazards exist. Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future. Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number. This is the fourth fatality reported in calendar year 2000 in the coal mining industry. As of this date in 1999, there were four fatalities.