January 12, 2023

US Department of Labor cites Eversource Energy Service Co. for willful,
serious violations after fatal Beacon Hill arc flash, blast in Boston

Utility company failed to provide required safeguards for employees

BRAINTREE, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Eversource Energy Service Co. for five violations of workplace safety standards after its investigation of a fatal arc flash and arc blast in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood on July 12, 2022, that led to a worker's death.

At the time of the incident, Eversource employees were doing maintenance work on electrical equipment located inside an underground electrical vault at 28 Bowdoin St. As one employee set the equipment back into place, an arc flash and blast occurred inside the vault. The employee suffered severe burns and later died.

Investigators found that Eversource:

• Did not fully deenergize the electrical equipment or follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations when employees conducted maintenance.
• Failed to make a reasonable estimate of the heat energy to which employees would be exposed if an arc flash and blast occurred.
• Did not adequately train the employees on electrical equipment hazards, provide rescue equipment nor test oxygen levels before the employees entered the vault, an enclosed space.

"Eversource could have prevented this arc flash and blast – and its tragic outcome – by ensuring effective and necessary training, procedures and work practices were provided and followed," said OSHA Area Director James Mulligan in Braintree, Massachusetts. "The company knew the hazards related to this type of high voltage equipment, yet it failed to safeguard its employees as the law requires."

OSHA has cited Eversource for two willful and three serious violations with a total of $333,560 in proposed penalties.

View the citations.

Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and other energy products to customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Learn more about OSHA.

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Media Contacts:

Ted Fitzgerald, 617-565-2075, fitzgerald.edmund@dol.gov
James C. Lally, 617-565-2074, lally.james.c@dol.gov

Release Number: 23-20-BOS