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<td><a href="https://misportal.jlab.org/ll/index.jsf?function=view&lessonId=951">Employee Receives Electrical Burn while Plugging in a Floor Lamp - Argonne National Laboratory</a></td>
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<h2 style="white-space:nowrap">Statement of Lessons Learned</h2>
<pre>Compromised cord insulation, corroded conductors, and a wall switch in the "on" position cause first degree electrical burns to an employee's right thumb and index finger.</pre>
<h2 style="white-space:nowrap">Discussion of Activities</h2>
<pre>On February 15, 2016, an employee entered a guest room and attempted to turn on a floor lamp with the wall switch. When nothing happened he walked over to investigate, as the lamp was typically plugged into a wall receptacle which was energized by the switch. Moving a nightstand he found that the lamp had indeed been disconnected from the wall. There was no observable damage to the lamp, cord, plug, or receptacle, so he attempted to plug it back into the wall. Upon contact with the receptacle, the plug flashed inside his hand causing first degree electrical burns to the thumb and index finger, and covering the palm in soot.
The employee reported the event to the supervisor who called 911. After being examined at the emergency room and receiving first aid only treatment, the employee returned to work with no restrictions.</pre>
<h2 style="white-space:nowrap">Analysis</h2>
<pre>Positioning of furniture, in this case the nightstand, up against a rear exiting power cord, with no strain relief, adversely affected the integrity of the cord, crimping the conductors and causing damaging to the insulation over time.
Electrical components degrade over time. Floor lamps, over 20 years old, would be within their end-of-life failure period. However, employees habitually replugged the lamps into the wall with the switch in the "on" position even when it resulted in the lamps flickering or not turning on at all.</pre>
<h2 style="white-space:nowrap">Recommended Actions</h2>
<pre>Below are the consequences of the above event. They are provided for information and discussion purposes only.
1) Purchase and install new floor lamps for all rooms. Lamps to have polarized plugs that are designed with the power cord coming out from the side to ensure proper strain relief and prevent crimping.
2) Develop a formal Lessons Learned report and present to housekeeping and maintenance employees.
3) Inspect all facilities for evidence of furniture compromising the integrity of power cords. </pre>
<h2 style="white-space:nowrap">JLab Preventive Measures</h2>
<pre>(Jefferson Lab's Subject Matter Expert has read and approved this lesson.)
Janitorial staff do not plug or unplug any electrical equipment (e.g. light fixtures, coffee pots) into any office or area outlet. Cleaning crews only utilize electrical outlets for their industrial cleaning equipment (e.g. such as a backpack vacuums; floor cleaning equipment; blowers; etc.) Janitorial staff are trained on the safe handling industrial equipment. Training includes ensuring equipment is in the off position prior to plugging the electrical cord into an outlet.</pre>
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<h2>Comments</h2>
<h5 style="white-space:nowrap">6/6/2016 8:42:56 AM by Bailey, Mary Jo</h5>
<pre>Submitted to those current in SAF120kd Safety Observation Program</pre>
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<legend>Summary</legend>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Lesson ID:</td>
<td class="dataval">951</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Status:</td>
<td class="dataval">OK</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Doc ID:</td>
<td class="dataval">2016-JLAB-951</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Priority:</td>
<td class="dataval">Best Practice</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Safety Related:</td>
<td class="dataval">YES</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Originator:</td>
<td class="dataval">Bailey, Mary Jo</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Issued:</td>
<td class="dataval">6/6/2016 8:27:04 AM</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Approved By:</td>
<td class="dataval">Bailey, Mary Jo</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Approved On:</td>
<td class="dataval">6/6/2016 8:42:56 AM</td>
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<td class="label">Source:</td>
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DOECRD
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<td class="label" nowrap>Location:</td>
<td class="dataval">ANL</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Cost Savings:</td>
<td class="dataval"></td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Contact:</td>
<td class="dataval">Jeff Alicz, alicz@anl.gov, (630) 252-9525</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Queued Emails:</td>
<td class="dataval">0</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Sent Emails:</td>
<td class="dataval">0</td>
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<td class="label" nowrap>Viewings:</td>
<td class="dataval">4 times</td>
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<li><a target="_blank" href="https://misportal.jlab.org/ll/downloadAttachment?attachmentId=4465">DOE - HousekeepingPic.png</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="downloadAttachment?attachmentId=4466">DOE - Damaged Plug.pdf</a></li>
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<legend>Hazard Issues</legend>
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<li>Electricity</li>
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<legend>Skills</legend>
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<li>SAF120kd: SAFETY OBSERVATION PROGRAM Read (http://www.jlab.org/ehs/ehsmanual/manual/3700.html) Then Contact Bob May ext.7632 to arrange practical</li>
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<legend>Distribution/Notification</legend>
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<li>*Division Safety Officers (DSOs)</li>
<li>*Safety Wardens</li>
<li>*DOE Notification</li>
<li>*ESH&Q Liaisons</li>
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