Utility worker suffers electric shock due to arc flash in Dutchess County
A NYSEG spokesperson said that on Monday morning a contractor working on behalf of the power company suffered "an injury caused by being within the vicinity of an arc flash."
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A NYSEG contractor is recovering from an electrical shock injury he sustained while he was working to restore power on Lime Ridge Road in Beekman.
The area was hard-hit during Saturday's sudden blast of wind. It is the first known instance of a line worker being seriously injured while fixing power outages from the storm.
A NYSEG spokesperson said that on Monday morning, a contractor working on behalf of the power company suffered "an injury caused by being within the vicinity of an arc flash" - a bright, loud explosion that happens when electrical current travels from a wire into the air.
Residents along Lime Ridge Road said they are even more appreciative of the utility crews.
"It's pretty crazy," neighbor Eric LeVasser said. "They're out here trying to get stuff done, turning the power on for a lot of people and they're doing a pretty dangerous job. I think everyone is pretty thankful for what they're doing out here."
There are many possible causes of arc flashes, including loose connections, old insulation and improperly connected generators.
The cause of Monday's arc flash is still being looked into.
Beekman Town Supervisor Laureen Abbatantuono, whose father was a line worker for 40 years, is pleased with NYSEG's work the past three days, bringing the town's outage numbers from more than 4,000 customers Saturday evening to nearly full restoration Tuesday.
Abbatantuono wants Beekman residents to keep giving line workers space as they work on complicated, delicate connections in adverse conditions.
"They have a very hard job," she said Tuesday in an interview at her office. "Any little movement, any little thing, we know what could happen, especially if it's raining. I give them a lot of credit."
The extent of the worker's injuries has not been released. Multiple sources told News 12 the worker was taken to a local hospital and is expected to fully recover.
Other sources more familiar with the incident were not immediately available Tuesday to share information about what exactly caused the arc flash.
