Eversource workers injured during transformer work in New Bedford

What happened

Four Eversource employees were injured while working on a transformer at 1457 East Rodney French Blvd in New Bedford, according to the New Bedford Fire Department. Firefighters were sent after 8:30 a.m. on Friday to reports of a possible explosion and an injured worker. On arrival they found workers with multiple injuries and called for more firefighters and New Bedford EMS. The four workers were taken to hospital: two to St.

Luke's Hospital and two to Rhode Island Hospital. One worker was later moved from St. Luke's to Rhode Island Hospital. The department said the incident caused a brief power outage for more than 1,300 customers. Eversource, OSHA and the New Bedford Fire Department Investigation Unit are investigating. The cause has not been reported.

Contributing factors

Not reported. Workers told firefighters the incident happened while they were working on a transformer. A possible explosion was reported, but the source does not confirm that an explosion occurred.

Lessons learned

1. Transformer maintenance can injure multiple workers at once, so site plans must cover several casualties and routes to more than one hospital.
2. A reported possible explosion during transformer work must be treated as an electrical hazard until the scene is secured.
3. Even brief outages from site incidents can affect over a thousand customers, so control rooms need prompt and accurate updates.

More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Exact cause of the injuries
• Transformer model and age
• Total downtime and repair cost

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

masslive.com