Let’s face it, things can go wrong—and that is very true for electrical power systems. Whether an incident is caused by incorrect work procedures, faulty or poorly maintained equipment or simple human error, the list of possible causes seems endless.
When an incident occurs, especially if there is an injury or worse, an investigation inevitably follows. Even minor incidents and near-misses should be investigated. In addition to determining the root cause, the results can be used to adjust work practices and operating procedures as well as possibly modify designs.
To address incident investigations, NFPA 70E 110.3 (J), Incident Investigations, states, “The electrical safety program shall include elements to investigate electrical incidents.”
Additional clarification is provided in an informational note that electrical incidents include events or occurrences that result in or could have resulted in a fatality, injury or damage to health. Even a close call or near-miss should be investigated. Why? Because that was this time. Next time, luck may run out.
Electrical incident investigations are not a new concept. The origins can be traced back hundreds of years. While electrical power systems as we know them did not exist hundreds of years ago, electrical incidents through lightning have existed since the beginning of time.
Bell ringers and life expectancy
Before a scientific understanding of lightning was developed, it was often explained with religious or philosophical interpretations. Ancient cultures typically viewed lightning as a sign of divine wrath. It wasn’t until the Enlightenment period that more structured, scientific approaches to understanding electricity, and specifically lightning, began to take shape.
In the centuries prior to modern electrical science, various superstitions and religious practices sought to protect people from the perceived dangers of lightning. As an example, in some cultures, it was believed that ringing church bells during thunderstorms could drive away lightning and protect people from the wrath of the storm. However, ringers hanging onto the end of a rope attached to a large metal bell during a thunderstorm had a lower-than-typical life expectancy. According to a 1784 German publication, “A Proof That the Ringing of Bells During Thunderstorms May Be More Dangerous Than Useful,” church bells had been responsible for attracting lightning strikes to 386 church towers since 1750, and 121 bell ringers had been killed as a result.
Electrical investigations
The study of lightning gained momentum in the 18th century with the work of pioneering scientists, most notably Benjamin Franklin. In the summer of 1749, Franklin began conducting a series of groundbreaking experiments on electricity, initially focusing on the nature of electrical phenomena such as static electricity and lightning. He is best known for his famous kite experiment in 1752, where he demonstrated that lightning is a form of electrical discharge.
Franklin’s experiments shifted from purely scientific inquiry to a more practical focus: protecting buildings and people from lightning strikes. His solution was the lightning rod—a simple yet revolutionary device. The lightning rod was typically made of iron, around 8–10 feet long, with a pointed end. Franklin’s invention proved to be remarkably effective, significantly reducing the number of lightning-related injuries and fatalities.
Legal disputes (even back then)
Despite the success of Franklin’s lightning rod, it was not without controversy. In 1783, a legal case in France highlighted the ongoing debate over the safety and effectiveness of lightning rods. A man named M. de Vissery had installed a lightning rod on his chimney, but the local alderman insisted it be removed. The alderman’s argument was that lightning rods might attract lightning from the clouds, potentially causing lightning to strike buildings or people.
De Vissery appealed the decision and, during the trial, his legal team raised two key technical questions: Were lightning rods dangerous or beneficial and was the lightning rod in question properly constructed? The case became a significant moment in the history of electrical science, as the alderman had failed to consult any experts—his objections were based on a faulty understanding of physics.
Today, NFPA 780 provides lightning protection system installation requirements to safeguard people and property from fire risk and the related hazards associated with lightning exposure. And, all of this started with observing bell ringers and flying a kite in a thunderstorm.
Learn from mistakes
It’s a common phrase, but we learn from our mistakes (well, some of us do). Electrical incident investigations have evolved significantly over the centuries, from understanding cause and effect of lightning and bell ringers, to today’s more technical investigations. Separated by hundreds of years, they had one goal in common—to understand why the event happened and its effect on people, and to make the situation safer. NFPA 70E 110.3(J), Incident Investigations, is there for just that reason—you should make sure you have a copy and read it.
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About The Author
PHILLIPS, P.E., is founder of brainfiller.com and provides training globally. He is Vice-Chair of IEEE 1584 Arc Flash Working Group, International Chair of IEC TC78 Live Working Standards and Technical Committee Member of NFPA 70E. He can be reached at [email protected].