RPTR RECEIVED A SHOCK WHILE ON THE INTERPHONE AT A RADAR POS.

Date: 1996-06

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

RPTR RECEIVED A SHOCK WHILE ON THE INTERPHONE AT A RADAR POS.

Narrative

I WAS WORKING THE PASCO (PSC) SECTOR WHEN THE FACILITY RECEIVED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PWR SURGES. I WAS ON AN INTERPHONE LINE COORDINATING WITH ANOTHER CTLR WHEN I EXPERIENCED A VERY LOUD BANG AND ELECTRICAL SHOCK THROUGH MY L ARM AND L EAR. MY L ARM WAS NUMB FOR SEVERAL MINS BEFORE DEVELOPING A BURNING AND TINGLING SENSATION. MY RADAR SCOPE WAS BLANK FOR SEVERAL MINS SO I WAS SCRAMBLING TO CONVERT TO NON RADAR SEPARATION AND PROCS. AS SOON AS I GOT THINGS 'CLEANED UP' I ADVISED MY SUPVR OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THAT I NEEDED A BREAK. DUE TO THE PAIN IN MY L ARM AND L EAR I SOUGHT AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTN. ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS FROM THE FAA REGIONAL OFFICE WERE BROUGHT IN TO LOOK AT THE EQUIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE EQUIP WAS IMPROPERLY GROUNDED AND A SURGE PROTECTOR NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED. THIS FACILITY WAS BUILT IN 1989. I AM SURPRISED THAT SURGE PROTECTORS WERE NOT INSTALLED CONSIDERING ALL THE SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIP THAT IS USED HERE. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AT OTHER FACILITIES I BELIEVE SURGE PROTECTORS SHOULD BE INSTALLED AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS DONE TO ENSURE THE EQUIP IS GROUNDED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAA KNEW ABOUT THE INADEQUATE GROUNDING OF THE WORK STATIONS AT THIS FACILITY BUT DUE TO A 'LACK OF FUNDS' THE PROB WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE PROB WAS KNOWN TO EXIST SINCE 1991. IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A CTLR OR MAINT TECHNICIAN WAS SHOCKED. THE PAIN AND TINGLING SENSATIONS IN MY L ARM AND L EAR SUBSIDED 3 DAYS LATER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE EQUIP HAS BEEN PROPERLY GROUNDED; BUT IS UNAWARE IF THE SURGE PROTECTOR HAS BEEN INSTALLED.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.