OSHA Fines Massachusetts Contractor $81,000 for Arc Flash in Andover

Interstate Electrical Services, an electrical contractor in North Billerica, was cited by the U.S. Departments of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following an arc flash blast at an Andover building construction site on November 23, 2011. Two workers were seriously burned when a piece of equipment made contact with an energized piece of electrical panel while they were installing an electrical service. This contact resulted in the arc flash blast.OSHA determined that Interstate Electrical Services did not properly guard the energized electrical panel to prevent workers from coming into contact with it. Due to the lack of protection, OSHA issued a willful citation to Interstate Electrical Services along with a $71,000 fine. OSHA defines a willful violation as, “one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.”

The contractor was also issued two other serious citations, with an additional $11,000 in fines. These citations were issued because there were other electrical hazards at the worksite, which included a damaged power cord and an energized electrical with that also was not protected. OSHA defines a serious violation as one, “when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.”