Human TOAST.

Electrocuted While Plugging In A Toaster!!

I think we all have wondered- if even once- "how will it happen to me.... how will I die?" We fantasize about a quiet, peaceful passing, but none of us really know. I wonder how many think, "maybe I'll get it while plugging in this appliance"? The following tragedy left no less than two victims; one electrocuted to death, one just electrocuted. While reading, try to imagine the 7 or 8 minutes as they unfolded. Put yourself in the position of the employees who were there, watching and participating in the tragedy. Plugging in a toaster. How benign.
How many times a day do you, and your employees, conduct such routines? At the end of this story, the causes are identified. Simple loose wiring. Employee fatigue. Engineering controls. Preventable? Accidents always are.

An 18-year-old employee was electrocuted while plugging a portable electric toaster into a 110 volt/20 amp receptacle.

Synopsis of Events
At the end of the third shift, four employees were preparing their facility for the start-up of the morning shift. The routine for clean-up included moving portable equipment, sweeping and damp mopping. This had nearly been completed and the employees were preparing to leave. Three of the employees were finished and were waiting for the fourth. Although not an official policy, workers often plugged the equipment back in so that it was ready for the morning shift. After damp mopping the floor approximately five to ten minutes earlier, the victim was in the process of plugging the toaster into a floor outlet when he received what resulted in a fatal shock.

The victim was found with one hand on the plug, the other hand wrapped around the receptacle box and with his face on top of the outlet. He was still in contact with the current and convulsing when found. An employee attempted to take his pulse but was shocked. Another employee then went to the breaker box and attempted to open the breaker for that circuit. The electric current was turned off after the victim had been in contact with it for approximately three to eight minutes. The employee checked for a pulse again and found none. The victim died.

Later that morning two different electricians checked and evaluated the circuits in the outlet. Both electricians concluded that the voltages of the circuits were correct, no grounds or shorts were found, and no broken insulation was observed. They did conclude that two of the 120v receptacles were worn and loose, and the 120v plug of the portable toaster had a crack. These receptacles and plug were replaced.

General Conclusions and Recommendations
While holding the plug, the victim's right hand slipped forward to make contact through the index finger to the energized prong. With his left hand holding the spring-loaded receptacle cover open, a current path through the arms, chest and heart would be established from energized prong to ground. Numerous factors contributed to the occurrence of this fatal accident. Some of these factors include:
1. The location of the receptacle outlet: By being on the floor, it restricted vision of and access to receptable(s) and increased exposure to water from mopping.
2. The design of the receptacle outlet: With spring-loaded cover caps mounted above rather than below the receptacles, a two-handed operation is required for insertion or removal of the plug.
3. The design of the 110v receptacle: Direct observation showed that the plug's prongs became energized before the plug had been completely inserted and twisted (a gap of 3/8" existed).
4. The design of the plug: No barrier (sleeve or flange) enclosed the prongs in order to prevent unintentional human contact.
5. The absence of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Breaker(s) (GFCI): During the site survey, no GFCIs for the electrical system could be found. If a GFCI had been on the circuit used for the portable toaster, it would have sensed the flow of current through the victim's body and interrupted the circuit before sufficient current passed to cause physical damage to the body.
6. Recent mopping of the floor: Water present on the floor and possibly the receptacle outlet may have increased the possibility of the electric current grounding through the victim's body.
7. Action of the victim: Being that the incident occurred early in the morning and at the end of the shift, possible fatigue and/or hurriedness of victim may have contributed to his right hand slipping and making contact with the energized prong.

The elimination of one or more of these factors may have prevented this electrocution. Of all the possible prevention strategies, the installation of GFCI's probably represents an easy and most comprehensive approach.