By Los Alamos National Laboratory - Robb Kramer [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Aerial view of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE).
Aerial view of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE).
Aerial view of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE).
Aerial view of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE).
Aerial view of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE).

Los Alamos National Lab Worker Burned at Substation

May 4, 2015
The incident occurred at a substation that supplies power to the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center in New Mexico.

A Los Alamos National Laboratory employee was burned Sunday while working at a substation. The incident occurred at a substation that supplies power to the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center in New Mexico.

Eight other employees were also transported to the Los Alamos Medical Center in connection with the accident. The incident is under investigation, according to a Lab spokesman.

Portions of the Science Center, which was built in the late 1960s and houses the Lab's linear accelerator, are without power.

According to a report from the Albuquerque Journal,  in 1997 a fire shut down the Center. An electrical fire broke out in a building near the linear accelerator when an extension cord to a portable fan apparently shorted out and dripped melted, burning insulation onto a box of anti-contamination clothing, lab officials said.

And in 1999, LANSCE was shut down again, this time for an extensive period, after a string of safety incidents, including when a worker touched a miswired and aging electrical transformer and received a small shock.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EC&M, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Electrical Conduit Comparison Chart

CHAMPION FIBERGLASS electrical conduit is a lightweight, durable option that provides lasting savings when compared to other materials. Compare electrical conduit types including...

Fiberglass Electrical Conduit Chemical Resistance Chart

This information is provided solely as a guide since it is impossible to anticipate all individual site conditions. For specific applications which are not covered in this guide...

Considerations for Direct Burial Conduit

Installation type plays a key role in the type of conduit selected for electrical systems in industrial construction projects. Above ground, below ground, direct buried, encased...

How to Calculate Labor Costs

Most important to accurately estimating labor costs is knowing the approximate hours required for project completion. Learn how to calculate electrical labor cost.