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JICOSH Home > Case Studies > Case No.113
Case No.113

A worker is killed by electric shock when he touches the charged part of an electrode holder
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[Description of the Accident]

This accident took place while using alternating current arc welding during welding and assembly work for steel window frames.

While the factory was in a vacation period on the day of the accident, work to complete window frames to be installed on a private residence was being carried forward as a rush job. Accordingly, only the victim had come to work. After meeting with the owner of the company in the office, the victim went into the factory and was working alone from around 10:30 in carrying out welding and assembly work on the window frames.

When it was time for lunch around noon, the owner went into the factory and found the victim lying prone on his stomach with his chest on the welding workbench (H-section steel) that was positioned on the dirt floor. At the time, the electrode holder on the right chest of the victim was still live, and the owner felt an electric buzz when he tried to lift the victim in his arms.

The victim, who was already unconscious, was rushed to a hospital by ambulance, but died due to electric shock.
[Causes supposed]

1. When the victim replaced the electrode, he accidentally touched the charged part of the electrode holder.

2. It was a hot day with a temperature of more than 31 degrees Celsius and no windows were open, it was fairly muggy in the factory. As the victim was soaked with sweat, there was little resistance to the flow of electric current.

3. As the welding machine was not equipped with an automatic voltage reduction device, the electrode holder was directly subject to secondary no-load voltage.
[Type of business] Other metal products manufacturing
[Caused by] Arc welding equipment
[Type of accident] Electric shock
[Number of victims] One fatality


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