# Thermal burns  third degree or higher at Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation
> OSHA SIR `20241110282` · 11/4/2024 · GILMER, TEXAS
## Severity
- **1 hospitalization**
- **Body part:** Multiple body parts  n.e.c.
- **Nature of injury:** Thermal burns  third degree or higher
## Cause
- **Event:** Vehicle or machinery fire
- **Source:** Power lines, transformers, convertors
- **Secondary source:** Secondary source not applicable
## Employer
- **Name:** Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation
- **Location:** 1200 West Tyler Street, GILMER, TEXAS, 75644
- **NAICS:** 238210
- **Jurisdiction:** 1
## Narrative

An employee was troubleshooting an electrical meter on a house. The employee didn't notice anything abnormal from the ground, so they went up in a bucket and noticed the wire connecting to the lightening arrestor was not connected. They made a curl on the existing copper and went to reconnect when an electrical transformer caused a fire. The employee sustained second- and third-degree burns to the face, upper body, and arms.

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*Source: [OSHA Severe Injury Reports](https://www.osha.gov/severe-injury-reports) · MORVS · CC0 1.0*