STATISTICS ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS IN ALBERTA. January 1 to December 31, 2017

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1 Community and Technical Support 16 th floor, Commerce Place Tel: nd Street Fax: Edmonton, Alberta Canada T5J 4L4 STATISTICS ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS IN ALBERTA January 1 to December 31, Regulations under the Safety Codes Act require that all electrical accidents, contacts or fires be reported to the Electrical Administrator. Alberta Municipal Affairs has compiled a summary report of incidents reported between January 1,, and December 31,. Organizations in the electrical industry may wish to use this information for promoting public awareness of electrical safety risks. Incident reporting forms and statistical reports from previous years can be found on the Alberta Municipal Affair s website at A total of 1218 incidents were reported in : involving overhead power lines; involving underground power lines; and involving other types of electrical installations or equipment This report presents the information in a series of tables, text, and charts: (1) Injury Incidents Pages 2 and 3 summarize fatal and non-fatal injury incidents. The table on page 2 outlines the persons, voltages, and equipment involved in the incidents. A brief description of injury incidents is provided on page 3. (2) Power Line Contacts Pages 4 to 6 summarize the power line contacts. The table on page 4 shows the different types of power line contacts and the number of fatal and non-fatal injuries incurred for each type of contact. The tables and charts on pages 5 and 6 compare historical information regarding power line contacts with current statistics. Since not all incident occurrences are reported, this report is not an accurate accounting of all the incidents that occurred in Alberta, however, it does serve as an approximation and sampling of the various types of incidents.

2 INJURY INCIDENTS REPORTED January 1 to December 31, FATAL (F) 1. PERSONS INVOLVED NON-FATAL (N) A. Performing electrical B. Not performing work electrical work 1. Qualified electrical worker 8 1. Adult 5 2. Qualified power system electrician/powerline tech. 2. Child 3. Non-qualified person 1 2. VOLTAGES INVOLVED A. Systems or equipment B. Contact with power (not power line lines (not included in A) volts or less volts or less 1 2. Over 750 volts 2. Over 750 volts 4 3. SYSTEMS OR EQUIPMENT INVOLVED A. Interior wiring systems B. Utility 1. Service/distribution 1. Overhead systems 1 equipment (poles, lines, etc.) 4 2. Motor control equipment 2 2. Substations and transformers 3. Switches, fixtures, etc Underground systems 1 4. Test equipment 1 4. Other 1 5. General wiring/conductors 2 6. Other equipment C. Utilization equipment D. Non-electrical equipment 1. Household appliances 1. Cranes/booms/pickers 2. Commercial/industrial equipment 2. Ladders/scaffolds 3. Portable power tools 1 3. Drilling rig equipment 4. Extension cords 4. Farm equipment 5. Welding machines/motors 5. Moving buildings 6. Mobile homes and trailers 6. Objects (pipe, antennae, etc.) 7. Signs 7. Excavating equipment 8. Other 8. Vehicles (high loads, truck boxes, etc.) 9. Other Electrical Incidents Statistics Report Page 2 of 6

3 SUMMARY OF REPORTED INJURY INCIDENTS Information provided in this report is information provided by Industry. Any change in wording from the reports received is done for clarification of the incident and to also protect the identity of the individuals involved. Fatal Injuries 1. A resident (non-worker) was fatally electrocuted during the delivery of road construction material with a tractor-trailer dump truck. 2. A resident (non-worker) was fatally electrocuted when a grain auger contacted an overhead powerline. Non-Fatal Injuries 1. The electrician was trying to mark the conduit with coloured duct tape to identify the source when his right elbow came in contact with one of the split bolts. The electrician received a shock from the elbow to hand. 2. An electrician wired a rheostat incorrectly to the wrong terminal on a VFD. Contact was made causing an ark flash. The employee received burns to their hand and was taken to the hospital. 3. An electrician was working on a live disconnect when an arc flash occurred in the fused disconnect. This resulted in a fire inside a splitter located below the disconnect. The electrician was transported to the hospital by EMS. 4. An oil field worker was standing near a 600-volt receptacle when it failed. The result of failure included an electrical arc. The worker experienced visual disturbance and a headache that resolved overnight. 5. A student working on an electrical lab while disconnecting a buzzer received a light shock. No serious injury was reported. 6. A worker pulling AC90 cable above a T-bar ceiling made contact between the cable and unprotected wires inside an open junction box. The worker received a 277 volt shock to the chest and shoulder. 7. An electrician splicing cables in a junction box received a 277 volt electric shock. The electrician was taken to hospital. 8. An electrician installing a lamicoid on the front cover of a disconnect caught one of the feeders behind the front cover causing an arc flash. The electrician received a burn to their hand and wrist. 9. A homeowner was addressing an overhead cable that was rubbing on their garage. The homeowner received a shock from the overhead 120/240 volts wire. 10. A forklift operator struck a power line with the forklift. The operator stepped from the forklift to the ground and incurred burns on both feet. The forklift operator was taken to the hospital for observation. 11. While under a powerline the driver of a dump truck with raised box made contact with a powerline. The driver received burns to the feet and was taken to the hospital. 12. A worker washing windows, with a fiberglass telescopic washing brush, made contact with an overhead powerline. The worker was taken to the hospital for observation. Electrical Incidents Statistics Report Page 3 of 6

4 REPORTED ELECTRICAL POWER LINE CONTACTS January 1 to December 31, TYPE OF CONTACT OR DAMAGE Overhead Utility Systems Vehicle-mounted equipment (booms, hoists, cranes, etc.) Trucks with raised boxes and vehicles transporting high loads # OF LINE CONTACTS Excavating or earth moving vehicles 98 NON- FATAL INJURIES FATAL INJURIES Farm implements Relocating structures (grain bins) 0 Vehicles out of control 272 Aircraft, parachutes, kites, etc. 5 Falling, brushing or trimming trees 43 Drilling and seismic equipment 4 Other contacts 42 2 Underground Utility Systems Excavating equipment 258 Vehicles hitting transformers, pedestals, etc. 176 Total Others 19 1 Total Electrical Incidents Statistics Report Page 4 of 6

5 REPORTED ELECTRICAL POWER LINE CONTACTS HISTORICAL SUMMARY For the Years 2009 to Overhead (O/H POWER LINE) contacts Underground (U/G POWER LINE) contacts Total Reported Contacts Fatalities (O/H POWER LINE Fatalities (U/G POWER LINE Total Reported POWER LINE Fatalities Injuries (O/H Injuries (U/G Reported injuries (persons) Non-Fatal ELECTRICAL Electrical Incidents Statistics Report Page 5 of 6

6 Reported Power Line Contacts - Historical Summary 2009 to Overhead (O/H Power line) Contacts Underground (U/G Power Line) Contacts Total Reported Contacts Reported Power Line Contacts - Injuries History 2009 to Fatal Injuries Non-fatal Injuries (O/H) Non-fatal Injuries (U/G) Electrical Incidents Statistics Report Page 6 of 6