GALION – Two Galion linemen are out of the hospital after an electrical accident at the Dawsett Street Substation. Power to the city’s southeast side was out for 6 hours.
According to Galion Line Department Superintendent Tony Slone, Great Lakes was called on Friday, Oct. 17 to help with maintenance needed on one of the old 4Kv transformers at the Dawsett Substation. Specifically, they would be raising the oil level. Before the maintenance could be done, the transformer had to be taken off-line and power rerouted so there would be no break in service.
The two lineman began work up on a pole. After careful testing with phasing sticks, the lineman flipped the switches, but one – from the 1940s- broke. Now the linemen were faced with bypassing that switch.
The lineman checked the lines for rerouting using phasing sticks.
“If you don’t know, you don’t guess,” commented Slone.
Being certain he had the correct configuration, the lineman started his work. But some of the old lines, also from the 1940s, had been run in different directions. This fact was not visible from the ground.
The two linemen experienced an arc flash fueled by two 2400-volts lines. Wires were vaporized. The jolt was heard and felt a mile away. Both men were injured. The power went out in the southeast quadrant of the city.
According to Chief Phil Jackson of the Galion Fire Department, Galion EMS got the call at 10:46 a.m. By 10:48 a.m. emergency crews were on the scene. One lineman was walking toward the emergency vehicle. One lineman said he felt fine, but emergency staff noted burns on the side of his face, chest and legs; and urged both men to be examined at the hospital.
Slone noted that an electrical accident many times causes internal injury.
Both men went to Galion Community Hospital. One lineman, who had previously said he felt fine, was transported to Columbus for treatment by a burn specialist. The other was treated and released. As of Monday, both men were home and both on a short leave.
The men were wearing their protective fire-retardant clothing. They may not have survived the blast otherwise, Slone said.
Galion is in the middle of an electric upgrade in four phases which includes phasing out old 4kV transformers and replacing them with new 12kV transformers. Mayor Tom O’Leary said that this accident demonstrates the need for the fourth phase of the upgrade to commence soon.
With two men sent to the hospital and two linemen off work, only one lineman and Slone were available to correct the power outage. They were also assisted by two former members of the line department.
O’Leary also spoke to this situation noting that the open position in the line department has still not been filled and the city should negotiate for more competitive wages for that department.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated for clarity and accuracy.
