He was a mechanical structural apprentice employed by the city of Santa Fe. In April 2019, he was working on a light fixture at the city’s convention center with the circuit still energized. The accident report stated he “appeared to cut or strip a wire that resulted in an electrical shock.”
The City Council approved a settlement for $500,000 for the family. This settlement dismisses the family’s tort claim against the city on behalf of the deceased.
The city reached an agreement with the New Mexico Environment Department in March 2020. The city paid $120,000 in citations. Half of the money went toward training and safety improvements, with the requirement that those would be completed by September 2020.
Don't Neglect Training
Excerpt from a previous e-Hazard blog:
The right training reduces the non-electrician’s chances of getting shocked or injured by an arc flash. Knowing how to safely perform a task, understanding what not to do or touch, and wearing the appropriate PPE is critical information to be trained on. A demonstration of skills by performing the task correctly is not only required by OSHA [see 1910.332(b)(1); 1910.332(b)(3)(i)-(iii); and 1910.399, definition of “qualified person”], but will also help cement that information. When workers know what they’re supposed to do, they get the job done safely, and can encourage coworkers to work safely around electrical equipment.
