A faulty electrical current blast injured two Nstar workers at an Everett substation yesterday, causing burns and smoke inhalation, and bringing in Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors to investigate what caused the explosion.
The OSHA, which investigates workplace accidents, the Boston Herald reports, sent an inspector to the substation at 173 Alford Street in Everett, after the “flash incident.” Typically, such flash incidents occur when a large electrical current is diverted from its insulated path, generating massive volumes of hot air, turning metal into vapor and generating tremendous pressure in a very brief time.
Nstar spokesperson said that the two injured workers were performing maintenance on a circuit yesterday afternoon about 1:30 pm when the blast occurred. One sustained burn injuries, while the other suffered smoke inhalation. Both men were taken to Mass. General Hospital.
No outages were caused by the incident. The Everett substation is a part of Nstar and connects to the Charlestown system which provides electricity to Greater Boston.
OSHA spokesperson told the Herald that the federal agency had never inspected the substation, since there have not been any complaints about it, “nor did it come up on a scheduled inspection list.”
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