 NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search - 00136528 - 29 Year old welder electrocuted in Ohio.
29 Year old welder electrocuted in Ohio.
A case study of an electrocuted welder was examined. A 29 year old employee of a steel treatment facility was attempting to turn off a welder when he contacted a power source. The victim was found lying on his back by a coworker in a convulsive state. The coworker noticed that the pull handle of a four wheel wagon style cart on which the welder was sitting was lying in water on the concrete floor. Electrical arcs were visible from the handle of the cart to the floor. Examination of the welder at the local police station revealed that the cables on the welder had exposed conductors; continuity checks on the four terminals of the welder plug indicated that the wiring of the plug provided an adequate ground path. The insulation on the welder's electrode holder was broken with large pieces of insulation completely missing. Inspection of the receptacle box revealed that the cover plate was designed for a different style receptacle; the receptacle box did not have a conductor wire attached to the ground terminal. A continuity check on the receptacle indicated an open circuit. The coroner stated that a severe burn compatible with a electrical burn was present on the victim's right index finger. The victim's finger came into contact with the welding machine's frame when the victim was trying to turn the welding machine off; the action completed the conductive path and resulted in the electrocution. The authors recommend that employers should initiate a safety policy that addresses specific tasks and stresses safety training and hazard awareness and should implement a preventive maintenance program to ensure that equipment is in safe operating condition. Electrical systems should satisfy the requirements of the National Electrical Code.