Encore Electric has experienced an electrical shock incident to one of our team members. The project team was reinstalling energized, 277 volt construction lighting in an elevator shaft and stairwell. Our team member picked up an energized, construction light fixture by a piece of mule tape, unbeknown to the individual, a 1” piece of protruding MC cable was still terminated inside the luminaire enclosure, the energized cable contacted their lower left forearm. The contact of the energized MC cable resulted in shocking the employee, tripping the construction lighting circuit breaker and causing a burn to the employee’s left forearm.
The root cause of this incident is:
- The construction lighting was being manipulated and moved while in an energized state.
- The installing electrician did not take the time to inspect all aspects of the light fixture or associated MC cable feeds.
- A piece of equipment that had been previously removed from service, was not properly inspected and approved for return to service status.
What is our takeaway from this very serious incident? Construction power is to be treated exactly as we treat permanent power. Encore does not allow energized work without a plan, method of procedure and sign offs. Construction power be it lighting, receptacles, or equipment, should not be moved, relocated, or manipulated, unless in a deenergized state. The only exception to this rule is if construction power is fed with a wiring means consisting of flexible cord and assemblies, suitable for portability and the conditions of use and location. All of us need to be consistently aware of our surroundings, team members, trade partners and vigilant with equipment, materials, and tools that we are working with. It is not always the large apparent risks that will cause the issue, something as unforeseen as a small 1” energized MC cable can be the catalyst to a much larger injury or project damage.