COLLINS ELECTRICAL CONST. CO., ST. PAUL

ELECTRIC SHOCK - DIRECT CONTACT WITH ENERGIZED BUSBAR

AN ELECTRICIAN WAS INSTALLING FEEDERS FOR FIRE PUMP CIRCUITS AT THE MAIN FIRE PU MP PANELBOARD ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF A BUILDING. ALL THE DOWNSTREAM PANELBOARDS W ERE DEENERGIZED, AND THE 2000-AMPERE, 480/277-VOLT MAIN PANELBOARD WAS ALSO DEEN ERGIZED, EXCEPT FOR THE MAIN BUSBARS FOR THE SERVICE ENTRANCE CONDUCTORS. THESE BUSBARS WERE LOCATED BEHIND THE PANEL'S FRAME CHANNELS, ABOUT 7 INCHES BELOW THE TOP OF THE MIDDLE COVER. THE ELECTRICIAN HAD FED THREE SINGLE-PHASE FEEDERS FRO M THE DOWNSTREAM PANELBOARDS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MAIN PANELBOARD. THESE CONDUCT ORS WERE BROUGHT IN THROUGH THE PANELBOARD AND CONNECTED TO LUGS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL THAT WERE TO BE ENERGIZED AT A LATER TIME. APPARENTLY, AFTER BRING ING THE CONDUCTORS INTO THE PANELBOARD, THE ELECTRICIAN REACHED BEHIND THE PANEL BOARD'S OPEN TOP COVER TO ATTACH A CABLE TIE. IN DOING THIS, HE CONTACTED THE EN ERGIZED BUSBAR AND WAS ELECTROCUTED.