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An oriented-strand board manufacturer operated its plant on a 24-hour, 7-day work week with two 12-hour shifts. Shift changes occurred at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. At approximately 8:30 pm on January 18, 2001, a wet hog, located in a wood room, dropped offline and would not operate.

The wet hog was used to grind tree bark and wood residue into a wet fuel used in wet-fuel burners in the plant. The wet hog was not essential to the operation of the plant, and whether or not it was operating had no effect on other operations in the plant.

An electrician was assigned to repair the hog. At approximately 10:30 pm, he entered the motor control room and opened a 2300-volt motor circuit breaker. He caused an electrical fault in the circuit breaker, apparently by contacting energized parts inside the circuit breaker cubicle, and the ensuing electric arc burned the employee and ignited his clothing.

He sustained burns over 90 percent of his body, 60 percent of which were third-degree burns. Even though he was badly burned, he departed the motor control center and walked approximately 43 meters to the first aid room. A nearby employee doused the remaining flames with water from a water cooler.

Two emergency medical technicians who worked at the plant went to the first aid room and administered first aid to the injured employee. Emergency medical services arrived a few minutes later and transported the electrician to a hospital where he was admitted for treatment. The electrician died the next day at 12:11 pm.

What actions could have been implemented to prevent this fatality?

Answer :

The following steps may have been done to avoid this fatality:

  • putting safety measures in place
  • dispense personal defense gear
  • Perform routine safety inspections
  • better communication
  • Make sure the equipment is maintained properly.
  • Review and update safety regulations:

some actions that could have been taken to prevent this fatality:

Implement safety protocols: The business should have set safety guidelines that staff members must adhere to when performing electrical work. To prevent mishaps, employees should get training on these protocols and be mandated to follow them at all times.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be made available to workers who handle electrical equipment, such as insulated gloves, goggles, and protective clothes. By doing this, the possibility of electrical shock and burns will be reduced.

Regular safety inspections should be carried out to make sure that all electrical equipment is in excellent working order and that all safety precautions are being observed. Any potential risks should be found and removed right away.

Assure adequate equipment maintenance: To reduce the danger of breakdowns or failures, all electrical equipment needs to be properly maintained. To guarantee that the equipment is in good operating order, routine inspections and maintenance should be carried out.

Review and update safety policies: To keep its safety rules current and effective in reducing accidents, the business should routinely review and update them. To keep workers updated on any changes to safety regulations and procedures, this should involve holding frequent safety training sessions.

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