PG&E: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Dec 26, 2018: Employee is burned in transformer explosion

At 10:07 p.m. on December 26, 2018, Employee #1 was troubleshooting a transformer that was thought to be producing intermittent power flow. The 12KV line transformer that was filled with mineral oil exploded into a fireball, burning the employee on his hands, arms, and face. He was hospitalized for his injuries.

Incident on Oct 13, 2011 (fatal): Two employees drown when vehicle sinks

On October 13, 2011, Employees #1, #2, and two other coworkers, all electrical p ower installers, were on Highway 70 near Rock Creek Reservoir in an F550, and th e right tires drifted off the road. Employee #1 was driving and over corrected, sending the vehicle into the reservoir. The vehicle sank 25 feet. The two cowork ers were seated in the rear and were able to open their doors and swim to shore. Employee #1 and #2 were not recovered until the vehicle was pulled from the res ervoir. Both employees were pronounced dead at the site.

Incident on Jan 16, 2011: Employee's finger is injured when ring is caught on bolt

On January 16, 2011, Employee #1, an apprentice telecommunication technician wit h the General Construction section of PG&E, was wiring a telecom cabinet on the second floor of a building. A grid of racks called "ladder racks", installed app roximately 7.5 ft above the floor, was used to run cables to telecom equipment. Employee #1 was standing on the first rung of a self-locking portable ladder, la beling the cables. The ladder rack had a few small bolts with exposed threads pr otruding horizontally. While descending the ladder and holding the rack for bala nce, his wedding ring became caught on a protruding bolt. Employee #1 was hospit alized at St. Francis Hospital for removal of the ring and treatment of the lace ration. He subsequently had surgery at CPMC-Davies Campus. The employer's safety rules prohibit wearing jewelry where there is a danger of electrical contact, c rushing or snagging on machinery, materials, or other objects. Employee #1 had b een informed of that policy a couple of weeks before the incident.

Incident on Oct 7, 2009 (fatal): Lineman dies in fall

On October 7, 2009, Employee #1, a lineman at Pg & E, was climbing down a sixty- foot tall utility pole, as he was passing a cross arm section; he lost his hold and fell to the ground. Employee #1 died as a result of the fall.

Incident on Mar 24, 2009 (fatal): Employee is killed in fall from pole

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on March 24, 2009, Employee #1 was a third level appr entice lineman working for a power company. He had climbed a pole to a height of 36 ft. Employee #1 fell after he shifted his weight from his primary line to hi s secondary line, and the secondary line did not hold him. He had hooked the sec ondary safety line to a tool in his pouch instead of to the D ring on the right side of his belt. Employee #1 was killed in the fall.

Incident on Oct 23, 2008: Lineman is injured in fall from platform

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on October 23, 2008, Employee #1, with Pacific Gas an d Electric Company, was replacing a cross arm and installing open points for fut ure construction. He was demonstrating to an apprentice lineman how to install a nd use a Safety Live Line Working Platform (i.e., "Diving Board"). While positio ning himself on the working platform, Employee #1's platform rope failed, causin g him to lose his balance and fall approximately 26 ft to the ground. He was hos pitalized for a fractured pelvis and wrist. Witnesses reported that he had insta lled the platform and attached his secondary climbing belt to the platform rope before disconnecting his primary rope from the pole. A coworker reported that th is particular work platform was used infrequently (approximately four to five ti mes per year), that all equipment was in good working condition, and that Employ ee #1 was using the platform in accordance with company policy.

Incident on Nov 15, 2008: Employee is burned when ratchet tool ignites purging gas

On November 15, 2008, Employee #1 and a coworker were replacing a large volume g as meter at a rice dryer warehouse that was not in operation. After purging the gas line, Employee #1 began tightening the bolts on the downstream flange with a Makita 18-volt ratchet tool (Model Number BTL063). As the air was purged from t he meter, the ratchet tool ignited the gas exiting the outlet flange. Employee # 1 sustained first and second degree burns to his face, hands, and arms. His cowo rker, who was approximately 10 to 15 feet away, ran to extinguish the flames on Employee #1's body. Employee #1 was treated at Colusa Hospital and released in l ess than 24 hours; however, days later, Employee #1 was admitted to the UC Davis Medical Center Burn Unit for further evaluation. Employee #1 worked for PG&E C orporation.

Incident on Sep 5, 2007: Employee is burned by arc flash

At approximately 10:32 a.m. on September 5, 2007, Employee #1 was an electrician for Pacific Gas & Electric. He was replacing an electrical meter in a cabinet. When he removed the meter an electrical flash burned his face. He sustained seco nd degree burns to the face. He was hospitalized at the Valley Medical Center Bu rn Unit for treatment of his burns.

Incident on Aug 1, 2007: Employee amputates fingertip between steel lid and valve

On August 1, 2007, Employee #1, a gas control technician, was working for a publ ic utility. Employee #1 was closing the double lids of a four foot by six foot g as valve enclosure. The lids were warped. Employee #1's left hand got caught bet ween the steel lids and the enclosure. Employee #1 pulled his trapped hand loose of the lids and enclosure. In doing so, Employee #1's fingertip lost flesh, and he chipped his finger bone.

Incident on Jan 29, 2007: Welder burns face with welding torch

On January 29, 2007, an employee was welding inside a bell hole approximately 4 ft long by 3 ft wide by 3 ft deep. While the welding torch was on, he laid it do wn in order to reposition himself. He accidentally kicked the welding hose, and the welding torch accidentally burned his face. The worker was not able to move because his arms were pinned by his body, which was inside the bell hole. The wo rker was immediately pulled out by the foreman, who treated the welder's facial burn. The welder was hospitalized for treatment.

Incident on May 2, 2006: Employee injured in fall from utility pole

On May 2, 2006, Employee #1 was changing out hardware on a utility pole, a job t hat required existing cross members and hardware to be removed. Employee #1 had loosened bolts on some of the hardware and was moving down the pole to a positio n 2 or 3 ft below. He had to un-hook his safety belt to move past a wooden cross member. While he was moving, he grabbed the cross member, which was loose. Empl oyee #1 lost his balance and fell over 30 ft to the ground. Employee #1 was tran sported to the Enloe Medical facility, where he was hospitalized for approximate ly four weeks.

Incident on Jan 1, 2006: Employee's arms are fractured when struck by power line

On December 31, 2005, Employee #1, a troubleman, was cutting a tree off the powe r lines that dropped to the ground. The power was disconnected and work was in p rogress to get the power on to customers. Employee #1 was working by himself. He cut some branches off the lines, when the lines snapped up and struck Employee #1 on his arms and forehead. Employee #1's arms were fractured by the power line s as they were raised in the air. He was hospitalized.

Incident on Oct 7, 2005: Employee amputated his finger on the dumptruck tailgate door

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on October 7, 2005, Employee #1, amputated his left minor ring finger just behind the nail. Employee #1, a heavy dump truck driver w ith 37 years of experience, was placing chunks of roadway asphalt and concrete t hrough an 18' inch-wide by 11' inch-high opening in a Heil batch gate located on the tailgate of the dump truck. The batch gate door was in an elevated position at the time of the incident and held up by a chain and connected with a 0.25-in ch steel S-shaped hook (Heil part number 053-0448.) The upper part of the S-hook straightened out released the chain and caused the batch gate door to lower. As the sliding door lowered it amputated the employee's left minor ring finger jus t behind the nail.

Incident on Aug 2, 2005: Employee suffers burns to hands from electric shock

On August 02, 2005, two employees of Pacific Gas and Electric, were installing a new anchor crane rod for a power pole using a 10-wheel Altec Digger Derrick (tr uck mounted crane with auger attachment) underneath an approximately 24 ft high 12kv power line. Employee #1 was guiding the auger attachment from the ground, a s Employee #2 was operating the crane. Employee #1 was holding the anchor rod wi th his right hand and the auger with his left hand as the crane tip came in cont act with the power line. When the crane hit the power line, Employee #1 received an electric shock, burning both his hands. He was transported to Roseville Sutt er Hospital and later to the UC Davis Medical Center for treatment.

Incident on Dec 7, 2004: Employee killed in fall from elevation

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on December 7th, 2004, Employee #1 was stepping down onto a 12 foot fiber glass "A" frame ladder. Employee #1 had been working inside a building's elevated heater closet to address a gas pressure problem. Employee #1 had a problem reaching the "A" frame ladder from the elevated heating closet . To reach the ladder Employee #1 moved backwards on his stomach. Employee #1 re ached the second rung from the top of the ladder with his right foot. However, w hen Employee #1 put his weight on his right foot, the ladder flew out from under him and he fell 8.5 ft to the ground. Employee #1 suffered a broken and disloca ted wrist and fractures to his right hip. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Incident on Apr 6, 2005: Apprentice electrician fractures ankle in sidewalk collapse

At about 10:17 a.m. on April 4, 2005, an employee was working for the utility Pa cific Gas and Electric. He and a coworker were at a site in San Francisco, CA. T he coworker was using a loader to dump drain rock into a trench in preparation f or the installation of two boxes that were being set side by side. On the opposi te side of the trench, Employee #1 was standing to the left of the loader and in front of a three-foot-tall fence, giving directions to his coworker, the loader operator. The loader moved forward onto the sidewalk to reach the area to be fi lled. Suddenly, the sidewalk gave way, causing the loader to move first to the l eft, and then to the right while lunging forward. As the loader moved to the lef t, the employee attempted to run to the right. When the loader moved back to the right, the employee became pinned between the loader bucket and the fence. He w as holding on to the bucket, when the fence partially collapsed, causing him to fall backward. He was hanging upside down over a stairway, with his ankles pinne d between the fence and the bucket. He fractured at least one ankle or foot. It was determined that the collapse of the sidewalk could not have been foreseen, a nd thus no accident-related violation was found as a result of an investigation into the incident.

Incident on Jul 22, 2004: Employee falls backward climbing steps and injures knees

A truck driver for an electric utility was climbing the metal steps to reach the driver's side of his truck cab. As the employee stepped up, his foot slipped, a nd he fell backwards. He tore the tendons in both knees and was hospitalized.

Incident on Jan 13, 2004 (fatal): Utility worker was electrocuted changing dampers

A power line worker was replacing dampers on a metal tower supporting a two-circ uit, 115-kilovolt overhead power line. The line on which he was replacing the da mpers was deenergized, but the parallel circuit was not. The crew had changed da mpers on several towers. This was the first tower for the power line worker to c hange dampers on this day. Without waiting for the grounding equipment to be rai sed, the employee started to work on the dampers. He was electrocuted when he co ntacted one of the power line conductors. The parallel energized line had induce d voltage on the deenergized line. The employee had performed this task many tim es before and was trained for the work.

Incident on Jan 5, 2004 (fatal): Employee killed in fall from power pole

On January 5, 2004, Employee #1, a lineman for PG&E, was on a power pole removin g disconnected lines running down its side so underground service could be insta lled. His left foot was on a climbing hook, and his right foot was attached to t he pole with a climbing spur. He was removing his climbing belt so he could repo sition himself on the pole when he lost his grip fell approximately 25 ft to the ground. A coworker at the base of the pole witnessed the fall and tried to assi st him before calling 911 for help. The Woodland Fire Department arrived at the scene and provided first aid. Employee #1 was transported to UC-Davis Medical Ce nter in Sacramento, where he died as a result of his injuries.

Incident on May 8, 2002: Fall - loose wall collapsed

An electric utility employee working alone was about to take readings from an el ectric meter at a residence. He stepped up onto the top of a low wall made of un mortared loose bricks. The wall collapsed, and the employee fell to the ground a nd broke his arm. He was hospitalized for his injuries.

Incident on Apr 8, 1999: Electric shock & fall - contact with energized parts

A power line worker was assigned to install an electrical service to an irrigati on water pump. The weather changed, and it started to rain. The employee started to rush so that he could finish the job and get out of the weather. He was work ing from an aerial lift while it was raining. In his rush to finish the job, he forgot to wear his fall protection harness. The employee believed that he receiv ed an electric shock, lost his balance, and fell to the ground. He was hospitali zed with a fracture.

Incident on Sep 8, 1997: Fall - failure of utility pole

A power line worker was installing a conductor on the crossarm of an 11-meter-ta ll utility pole. He was strapped onto the pole and was adjusting the conductor t o get the required sag on the conductor. The pole broke, and the employee rode i t down. He sustained injuries to his wrists, liver, and kidney and was hospitali zed for his injuries.

Incident on Jul 17, 1997: Employee injured by blow to head

At 7:36 a.m. on July 17, 1997, Employee #1 was performing his regular job of rep airing the two main units of the generator at PG&E at Hunters Point Power Plant in San Francisco. The casing of the generator he was working on had been pressur ized the day before to detect the plug leaks in the coolant tubes. Employee #1 a ttempted to remove the access cover by removing 23 of the 24 bolts where it was under pressure. The pressure from inside caused by the casing stripped the remai ning threads off the bolt (the last bolt was still partially threaded). The cove r blew off and struck Employee #1 in the head. The force was so great that it da maged the guard railing on the turbine deck.

Incident on Mar 10, 1997 (fatal): Electric shock - contact with overhead line thru conductor

A nine-person crew was installing a 4/0 conductor for an overhead power line. Th e conductor became entangled in tree limbs. When the employees freed the conduct or, it sprang up into a 12-kilovolt overhead power line. One of the employees, w ho was touching the conductor and a grounded conductor, was electrocuted.

Incident on Mar 27, 1996 (fatal): Burn - electrical fault in regulator

Two journeyman high-voltage electricians were dispatched to a substation to trou bleshoot a regulator that was not responding to automatic control. They had comp leted a low-voltage relay examination and replaced a loose Porter Brumfield rela y in its socket. They then placed the controls on manual, adjusted voltage, and returned the regulator to automatic control to determine whether it was function ing correctly. The stepping device moved one step, and then the regulator failed , spewing burning insulating oil out of the overpressure vent. The hot oil burne d both employees. One of them died of his injuries.

Incident on May 11, 1995: Lineman injured in fall from utility pole

On May 11, 1995, Employee #1, a lineman for PG & E, was transferring crossarms a nd power lines from an old pole to an adjacent new pole. He was repositioning hi mself on the old pole when he fell approximately 25 ft backward to the ground. H e was hospitalized with a fractured pelvis and ribs. On inspection, safety belt and gaffs were in good condition.

Incident on Mar 17, 1995: Burn - electrical fault in substation

On the morning of March 17,1995, a substation electrician for an electric utilit y noticed that a disconnect appeared to have a loose coupling on its vertical op erating rod. This defect prevented the disconnects from closing. The electrician adjusted the coupling, but the problem was corrected on only one of three phase s. Later that day, two other electricians were assigned to work on the coupling. At 3:00 PM, the electricians requested an aerial lift truck to assist them in t heir work. The aerial lift was positioned near a deenergized conductor between t he bottom of one open disconnect and the bushings on another disconnect. The emp loyees would ground the deenergized conductors, adjust the horizontal inter-phas e linkage, lower the aerial lift bucket, remove the grounds, and operate the dis connect to check for proper adjustment. They repeated this procedure several tim es. The employees then left the disconnect in a closed position to determine wha t the next adjustment should be. One of the electricians observed the disconnect from the bucket and asked the other electrician to ground just one of the phase conductors. Without checking the position of the disconnect and without checkin g for voltage on the conductors, the second electrician applied a ground to the energized, 12-kilovolt conductor. This caused an electrical fault, and the ensui ng electric arc burned both employees. One of the employees was hospitalized wit h severe burns to his face, neck, and shoulder. Since no customers would have be en affected, the employees could have performed the work with the entire circuit deenergized. However, they chose to work it energized.

Incident on Oct 19, 1994: Fall - slipped while descending steep bank

An electric utility employee slipped while descending a steep bank. He fell 3 me ters (10 feet) to the bottom of a canal. The employee suffered a fractured right ankle as a result of the fall and was hospitalized for his injury.

Incident on Oct 25, 1994: Electric shock - direct contact with overhead line

A power line worker was working on a deenergized power line. He contacted an ene rgized part on a 21-kilovolt fused cutout and received an electric shock. The em ployee suffered severe burns to the upper body and arms and was hospitalized for his injuries.

Incident on Jul 11, 1994: Gas meter reader bitten in face by neighbor's dog

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 11, 1994, Employee #1 was attempting to read a gas meter at a residence. A dog jumped up and partially over a fence at anothe r residence, and bit Employee #1 in the face. Employee #1 sustained dime-size ho les in the corner of his left nostril and a portion of his upper lip. He was tra nsported by paramedics to UCD Medical Center in Sacramento where he was treated and released. Employee #1 will have plastic surgery.

Incident on Jul 22, 1991: Burn - electrical fault in meter base

An electric meter technician was completing a field check on a 480-volt electric al cabinet. He was wearing safety glasses, a face shield, insulating rubber glov es with leather protectors, and a long-sleeve shirt over a T-shirt. He replaced the meter socket. Standing to one side of the enclosure, the employee next remov ed the first of three jumpers. An electrical fault occurred, destroying the enti re left side of the cabinet and blowing the meter 6.1 meters away. The employee was hospitalized with multiple second-degree burns.

Incident on Mar 22, 1991: Fall from utility pole

An employee for an electric utility was climbing a 13.7-meter-tall utility pole as a prerequisite to his becoming a ground worker for the installation and repai r of overhead power lines. As he was climbing the pole, he fell from a height of about 6.1 meters, landing on the ground. He sustained a back injury for which h e was hospitalized. He was diagnosed with two crushed vertebrae (T6 and T10).

Incident on Dec 17, 1990: Fall from tree

A power line worker was assigned to reconnect a service drop to a cabin. A tree that fell across an overhead power line had knocked down the service drop. The e mployee climbed a tree, using its limbs as handholds. He grabbed a limb for supp ort, and it broke. He fell about 3 meters to the ground, landing in a sitting po sition. The employee was hospitalized with a compression fracture of his spine.

Incident on Jul 3, 1990: Employee injured when atv overturns

At approximately 9:50 a.m. on July 3, 1990, Employee #1 loaded two 5-gallon, 45 lb containers onto the rack at the rear of a Yamaha 350cc Big Bear ATV. He start ed up the steep hill toward tower #16/135 and had gone about 10 ft off Highway 7 0 when the front wheels of the ATV left the ground, causing the vehicle to overt urn. Employee #1 fell backward and landed on the ground at the edge of the road. He was seriously injured. The owner's manual stated that when going up hills, t he weight should be placed forward over the front wheels. The ATV overturned due to the unbalanced load. Employee #1 was experienced, but the only carrying rack was on the rear of the vehicle.