Universal fined $11,585 for electrical safety violation following maintenance-related injury
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined Universal $11,585 after an employee suffered a severe electrical shock while performing routine maintenance at Epic Universe’s Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry ride in Orlando, Florida.
According to FloridaPolitics.com, the incident occurred on April 24 at approximately 7:22 a.m., prior to the park opening, after Epic Universe had been constructed and was open for guest previews. The unidentified employee came into contact with a 480-volt busbar on a ride vehicle that was not locked as required.
According to OSHA records, the employee was “severely shocked” and hospitalized at Orlando Health in downtown Orlando. Injuries included a fractured upper arm, multiple fractured ribs, and a dislocated shoulder. OSHA’s report did not provide an update on the employee’s condition.
OSHA determined that the ride vehicle is normally locked out in three locations and that the electrical circuit powering the busbar is typically locked out during maintenance. In this case, the required lockout procedures were not followed. OSHA investigated the incident, conducted a site visit, and reported that there were no unusual circumstances encountered during the investigation.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Peter Cheetham, Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Florida State University, said, “It appears the worker did not follow safety protocol and did not de-energize the electrical circuit before working on it. The circuit, being a 480V 3-phase, would have created an electrical arc or shock at some point when he started working on it. I’m guessing he either touched two of the busbars (which are typically a bare piece of copper) or he touched one of the busbars while also holding onto something or standing on something which was at ground potential. The report does not give enough details to know exactly what type of electric shock happened and there is also not specifics on the ampacity which would describe how bad the shock would be.”