2008 Woodie Awards
Employee Remains Hospitalized
Freeman Accident Leads to Burn Victim
Jessica Havery
Issue date: 10/28/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Michael Killian, the Physical Plant employee injured in last Tuesday's Freeman Hall incident, remains in St. Barnabas Hospital's burn unit with no expected date of return, said Kiki Williams, director of Physical Plant.
While replacing a breaker in the mechanical room of Freeman Hall, an electrical panel arched, throwing Killian 15-20 feet after causing severe burns, Williams said.
"Killian was not wearing gloves at the time of the incident. When working on a live panel the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment should be worn," said Williams.
"A safer method of working on the panel [would be] to adhere to proper Lock Out Tag Out procedures by de-energizing the equipment," Williams said.
The system malfunction necessitated a power shutdown, which led to the displacement of 230 Freeman Hall residents, said Sargent Kieran Barrett, of University Police.
"After the building and electrical systems were checked by PSE&G and Physical Plant officials, residents were permitted back into the building," Barrett said.
While replacing a breaker in the mechanical room of Freeman Hall, an electrical panel arched, throwing Killian 15-20 feet after causing severe burns, Williams said.
"Killian was not wearing gloves at the time of the incident. When working on a live panel the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment should be worn," said Williams.
"A safer method of working on the panel [would be] to adhere to proper Lock Out Tag Out procedures by de-energizing the equipment," Williams said.
The system malfunction necessitated a power shutdown, which led to the displacement of 230 Freeman Hall residents, said Sargent Kieran Barrett, of University Police.
"After the building and electrical systems were checked by PSE&G and Physical Plant officials, residents were permitted back into the building," Barrett said.