Feds Cite Eversource After Worker's Death In Electrical Blast

BOSTON, MA — The U.S. Department of Labor wants to issue a six-figure fine to Eversource for violations of workplace safety standards that led to a utility worker's death over the summer, the federal agency said Thursday.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found five safety violations at the site of a July arc flash and arc blast that injured two workers. One worker burned in the incident later died.

The incident happened near 28 Bowdoin St. on Beacon Hill. The two employees were performing maintenance on an underground electrical vault.

In a statement Thursday, Eversource identified the employee as Fabio Pires, a Brockton resident originally from Cape Verde.

"While we disagree with the conclusions reached by OSHA as well as the characterizations of our actions, we share a determination in learning from what happened to prevent future tragedies and will continue to respond accordingly as this process becomes final," the utility said in a statement. "We continue to work closely with our union leadership, industry experts and our workforce on additional safety enhancements in all we do to prevent any future reoccurrence and ensure the safety of both our employees and the public we serve."

The safety violations Eversource made, according to OSHA, include:

• Not fully de-energizing the electrical equipment before maintenance
• Failing to estimate heat energy if an arc flash were to occur
• Inadequately training employees about the hazards of electrical equipment
• Neither providing rescue equipment nor testing oxygen levels in the vault before maintenance

"The company knew the hazards related to this type of high voltage equipment, yet it failed to safeguard its employees as the law requires," Braintree-based OSHA Area Director James Mulligan said in a news release.

OSHA has proposed a $333,560 fine for Eversource, but the utility will have the opportunity to appeal and contest the findings.