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Title: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on June 28, 2018, 06:58:18 AM
This is pretty close to me so I'm following it closely. Two days ago a little girl and a employee who rescued her were shocked at the new MGM National Harbor Casino in Baltimore. The young girl is still in critical condition.

From what I can determine from watching several news outlets, there was an energized handrail which the girl grabbed and couldn't let go of. But an MGM employee was able to pull her off, and he was shocked but not seriously.

I'll contact the local AHJ, but I'm pretty sure all metal handrails have to be bonded to building ground to meet code in this county.

2 injured by electric shock at MGM National Harbor; company calls it ‘horrible accident’
By Jennifer Ortiz June 27, 2018 10:33 am
   
WASHINGTON — A 6-year-old girl and a man are in the hospital from injuries they suffered from an electrical shock at MGM National Harbor Tuesday night.

The incident happened at the outdoor fountain area on the west side of the building just before midnight, said Prince George’s County Fire and EMS.

As the girl was shocked, an adult male employee of the casino stepped in to help and was shocked as well.

Prince George’s County Fire and EMS said the girl went into cardiac arrest on the scene. She regained a pulse while en route to the hospital but is still unconscious.

The girl remains in critical condition and the man is expected to be OK.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, an MGM spokesman said the area around the fountain had been closed to the public while investigators and the company’s engineers conduct a “comprehensive assessment of the situation.

MGM is “fully cooperating” with the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department, the spokesman said.

The statement provided to WTOP said the company was heartbroken over what it called a “horrible accident.”
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jay Barracato on June 28, 2018, 08:46:53 AM
This is pretty close to me so I'm following it closely. Two days ago a little girl and a employee who rescued her were shocked at the new MGM National Harbor Casino in Baltimore. The young girl is still in critical condition.

From what I can determine from watching several news outlets, there was an energized handrail which the girl grabbed and couldn't let go of. But an MGM employee was able to pull her off, and he was shocked but not seriously.

I'll contact the local AHJ, but I'm pretty sure all metal handrails have to be bonded to building ground to meet code in this county.

2 injured by electric shock at MGM National Harbor; company calls it ‘horrible accident’
By Jennifer Ortiz June 27, 2018 10:33 am

WASHINGTON — A 6-year-old girl and a man are in the hospital from injuries they suffered from an electrical shock at MGM National Harbor Tuesday night.

The incident happened at the outdoor fountain area on the west side of the building just before midnight, said Prince George’s County Fire and EMS.

As the girl was shocked, an adult male employee of the casino stepped in to help and was shocked as well.

Prince George’s County Fire and EMS said the girl went into cardiac arrest on the scene. She regained a pulse while en route to the hospital but is still unconscious.

The girl remains in critical condition and the man is expected to be OK.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, an MGM spokesman said the area around the fountain had been closed to the public while investigators and the company’s engineers conduct a “comprehensive assessment of the situation.

MGM is “fully cooperating” with the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department, the spokesman said.

The statement provided to WTOP said the company was heartbroken over what it called a “horrible accident.”
That's not Baltimore, that's PG county outside of DC on the Potomac.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: frank kayser on June 28, 2018, 09:15:51 AM
That's not Baltimore, that's PG county outside of DC on the Potomac.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
Gets one's attention in a special way when the location is a) high dollar b) brand new c)15 miles from home.
Prayers for the 6-year old girl, and thanks to the employee who pulled her off.
(Rhetorical) Will we ever know just what combination of circumstances colluded to create this disaster?
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on June 28, 2018, 12:44:13 PM
My guess would be an anchor bolt from the fountain was installed drilled through underground PVC conduit.  I've had wires shift weeks and months after install and come into contact.  Not sure about county codes-handrails (actually anything metal) is supposed to be bonded if it is "likely" to become energized.  A guard rail conceivably installed months after underground counduit was layed by contractors that they probably never saw, in an area apparently a long ways from any electricity- who would think?  Would "likely" apply?

I feel terrible for the parents-these are the kinds of things that keep contractors awake at night wondering how you prevent stuff like this.  Maybe a quarterly scan with an NCVT by maintenance?  Weekly?
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on June 28, 2018, 01:20:39 PM
If NCVT can detect a field without contact, I wonder if a more sensitive detector could scan public areas from some distance and "see" energized threats like an IR camera?

BTW don't expect to get much factual detail about the incident if a lawsuit may be in the future.

JR
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on June 28, 2018, 09:25:01 PM
That's not Baltimore, that's PG county outside of DC on the Potomac.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

Oops.... You're right.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on June 28, 2018, 09:28:56 PM
If NCVT can detect a field without contact, I wonder if a more sensitive detector could scan public areas from some distance and "see" energized threats like an IR camera?

They do something like that when searching for electrically "hot" light poles. I'm not sure of the technology, but apparently there's a truck mounted NCVT that can drive by the light poles and get a reading of any hot-skin voltages. They scanned something like 50,000 light poles in Seattle a few years ago, and IIRC they found a few dozen of them that were electrically "hot".
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on June 28, 2018, 09:50:39 PM
Here's what Seattle says they do about testing light poles for contact voltage.

http://www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight/StreetlightsAndContactVoltage.htm

Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on June 28, 2018, 10:23:39 PM
Here's what Seattle says they do about testing light poles for contact voltage.

http://www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight/StreetlightsAndContactVoltage.htm
so it sounds like a viable concept?

I hope somebody does it... I'm old and tired.

JR
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Scott Holtzman on June 28, 2018, 11:21:26 PM
I'm old and tired.

JR

Dude that's my line. 
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jerome Malsack on June 29, 2018, 03:12:48 PM
by the title it places this outside DC on the beltway   I have placed a yellow circle where I think the fountain is outside on the right side of the building.


This is at  295 meeting 495 DC beltway near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.  Also 210 Indian Head.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jerome Malsack on June 29, 2018, 03:29:53 PM
This is a very new facility also because it opened up in 2016 or 2017.  So we are not looking at a very old structure. 
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on June 29, 2018, 03:41:42 PM
This is a very new facility also because it opened up in 2016 or 2017.  So we are not looking at a very old structure.

Yeah, they've been promoting it a lot lately. The grand opening was December 8, 2016, so it was only 18 months old. Cost was 1.3 billion dollars, which overran the original budget by 500 million bucks.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jim Rutherford on July 01, 2018, 11:58:20 AM
Several cities conduct stray voltage surveys.  Below is a link to what ConEd is doing in NYC.


 https://youtu.be/i2j0HcJEWSM (https://youtu.be/i2j0HcJEWSM)
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on July 01, 2018, 12:18:32 PM
Several cities conduct stray voltage surveys.  Below is a link to what ConEd is doing in NYC.


 https://youtu.be/i2j0HcJEWSM (https://youtu.be/i2j0HcJEWSM)
I knew it was a good idea...

JR
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on July 01, 2018, 07:48:25 PM
I knew it was a good idea...

JR

Yes, and it looks like one of those ray-gun dishes from a Godzilla movie.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on July 01, 2018, 08:22:56 PM
Yes, and it looks like one of those ray-gun dishes from a Godzilla movie.
how long before its a smartphone app?

JR
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jim Rutherford on July 01, 2018, 08:25:07 PM
The thing about good ideas is that someone else is thinking of it also. 

The technology has has been around for about 8 years now.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Craig Hauber on July 02, 2018, 12:58:57 PM
I too was shocked at the MGM in Vegas...

-when I got the final room bill after infocomm!
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Lyle Williams on July 04, 2018, 04:54:33 AM
how long before its a smartphone app?

JR

I've just written the Stray Voltage Detection app. It's foolproof.

Before you test for stray voltage, you press the "About to test" button. 

Then you touch the surface that you think might the electrified. 

After that, you press the "OK, I didn't die" button on the app. 

If you don't press the second button, the app reports that stray voltage was present.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on July 04, 2018, 06:47:37 AM
I've just written the Stray Voltage Detection app. It's foolproof.

Before you test for stray voltage, you press the "About to test" button. 

Then you touch the surface that you think might the electrified. 

After that, you press the "OK, I didn't die" button on the app. 

If you don't press the second button, the app reports that stray voltage was present.

A variation of "Hey, watch this"...
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on July 04, 2018, 09:24:39 AM
I've just written the Stray Voltage Detection app. It's foolproof.

Before you test for stray voltage, you press the "About to test" button. 

Then you touch the surface that you think might the electrified. 

After that, you press the "OK, I didn't die" button on the app. 

If you don't press the second button, the app reports that stray voltage was present.
Except the body laying there is a dead giveaway.  :o

JR
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Chris Hindle on July 04, 2018, 11:51:36 AM
I've just written the Stray Voltage Detection app. It's foolproof.

Before you test for stray voltage, you press the "About to test" button. 

Then you touch the surface that you think might the electrified. 

After that, you press the "OK, I didn't die" button on the app. 

If you don't press the second button, the app reports that stray voltage was present.
What happens if the phone get's fried ?
No report to "App Central"
Life is too complicated. All these Apps, Smartphones, Social this and that.
I'm old-skool.
Just wear a Fluke volt-alert around you neck.
Chris ::)
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Dave Garoutte on July 04, 2018, 12:32:25 PM
The trick is to touch with the back of your finger so the grip reflex pulls you away.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Ed Hall on July 04, 2018, 03:12:13 PM
The trick is to touch with the back of your finger so the grip reflex pulls you away.

+1
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on July 04, 2018, 07:13:45 PM
The trick is to touch with the back of your finger so the grip reflex pulls you away.

Yup, I was taught to always scrape a knuckle on any box or wire that had ANY chance of being electrified. Even after I metered it and confirmed it wasn't hot. I just never grab onto anything metal any more. Learned my lesson in my youth...
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Tim McCulloch on September 26, 2018, 01:16:31 AM
More about the MGM National Harbor electrocution in the Washington Post.  Seems there were multiple Code violations (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/officials-reviewing-faulty-wiring-on-mgm-handrail-where-child-was-electrocuted-according-to-early-investigation/2018/09/25/54c00a1c-c029-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html).
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on September 26, 2018, 07:22:49 AM
More about the MGM National Harbor electrocution in the Washington Post.  Seems there were multiple Code violations (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/officials-reviewing-faulty-wiring-on-mgm-handrail-where-child-was-electrocuted-according-to-early-investigation/2018/09/25/54c00a1c-c029-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html).

Yes, just saw it on the morning news a few mintues ago. I'll look at this in more detail later, but the reporter said somthing about the 12-volt lighting was accidentally connected directly to 120 volts.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on September 26, 2018, 10:52:47 AM
As an electrician that article is painful story to try and read-mainly because the writer is obviously clueless but that is probably true of most reporting.  Sounds like a lot of short cuts took place on that job.

The ONE thing that would have absolutely prevented the shock ( not electrocution thankfully ) would have been that little phrase requiring " anything that is likely to be energized to be bonded ".  A lighted handrail has to be considere " likely to be energized ".  Had the 2 handrails been bonded to a common grounding electrode system, the lights might not have worked, and might even have let the smoke out, but no innocent bystander would have been hurt.  Everything else to me is poor workmanship and part of the failure- but lack of bonding is the root cause.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on September 26, 2018, 04:20:21 PM
Everything else to me is poor workmanship and part of the failure- but lack of bonding is the root cause.

I'd suggest that lack of bonding/grounding is a secondary cause. The root (or primary) cause is whatever causes something that should not be energized to become energized. Bonding/grounding provides a secondary means of protection should the primary means of protection (electrical insulation or connecting things properly) fail.

But that's just nitpicking language.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on September 26, 2018, 05:21:49 PM
I'm surprised that the lack of bonding was overlooked- that is the main thing my inspectors look at-too many drivers in a box is something from an install manual that may or may not be available to the inspectors.

The reason I argued that lack of bonding is the primary cause is because even if rest of the install was perfect-the possibility still exists for a driver to fail energizing the rail.  Circuit breakers and fuses provide a great deal of protection-but proper bonding is a must for them to do their job.

Nothing to argue over ( obviously this is arm chair quarter backing) I simply wanted to make the point that bonding of metal handrails/ staging is critically important whether at the MGM or your next gig.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: David Buckley on October 16, 2018, 06:17:41 PM
The reason I argued that lack of bonding is the primary cause...

One can argue over whether it is the primary cause or not, but of all that long list of bad stuff, it is the one thing that would have definitely saved a life, and as you note earlier, the case for having that metallic item grounded is strong.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Mike Sokol on October 26, 2018, 09:53:29 PM
This story is back in the new today, with reports of not only several different code violations and improper installation procedures, but also that it may never have been inspected. And the police appear to be looking to attach blame (and liability) to whoever did the installation. So the next time someone asks you to cut corners on an installation, consider the consequences and liability if something goes wrong.

PALMER PARK, Md. — Four months after a 6-year-old girl visiting MGM National Harbor suffered an electric shock, she remains hospitalized with very serious injuries. The girl was hurt June 26 after touching an outdoor handrail near a fountain. And Prince George’s County Police are now shifting the focus of their investigation into why it happened.

“The investigation up to this point has not found a single point of failure, and has not identified a single bad actor,” Police Chief Hank Stawinski said at a Thursday afternoon news conference at police headquarters.

He said the investigation is widening to look at MGM National Harbor’s design, permitting, installation and inspection.

“The question we need to answer is: How did all of those elements get assembled so incorrectly as to lead to her injury?” said Stawinski. “I am not ruling out criminal responsibility.”

The chief was asked if police are looking at the possibility that public corruption played a role.

“The issue of public corruption has always been a part of our investigation. It’s not a new factor that we’re introducing into it, and the facts will take us where the facts take us,” he answered.

Stawinski says from the start of the investigation, his department has been receiving technical assistance from the FBI, and that will continue. He’s not sure how long the investigation will take, and asked for the community’s patience.

“This is extraordinarily complex. This will take time,” he said.

“We will spare no resource in learning what happened to her,” added County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks. “We believe that she deserves answers, and her family deserves answers.”
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Tim McCulloch on July 08, 2019, 08:03:16 PM
A story in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/a-child-touched-an-electrified-railing-at-mgm-national-harbor-resort-and-lives-changed/2019/07/05/a5a78648-9b94-11e9-9ed4-c9089972ad5a_story.html) on the impact of this on the victims and their family.

"In November, Zynae’s family sued MGM, Rosendin Electric and Whiting-Turner. Rosendin was an electrical contractor on the project, and Whiting-Turner acted as the general contractor.

“This is tragic and never should have happened. This family, no family, deserves something like this to happen,” Morelli said.

In separate court filings, the three co-defendants deny negligence and liability, blaming one another or circumstances out of their control for the incident."

Aside from not wanting to be a defendant in such cases I can't imagine having responsibility for what happened to this little girl, her brother, and her mom & dad.

"And in the living room, with the wheelchair and rounds of animated movies, Rosier holds her hopes close as she talks to her now-silent daughter.

“How are you feeling, Zy? You feeling good today?” she asks Zynae.

“Blink three times for Mommy to let me know you’re feeling good.”

Rosier waits. Zynae blinks once. Twice. And then a third time.

“That’s my baby,” Rosier says.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jeff Bankston on July 09, 2019, 12:56:29 AM
I am a retired commercial electrician/foreman. There is a minimum depth that conduit has to be outside underground in commercial construction. The electrical code and possible local codes that have greater depths are what you go by. The foreman is suppose to see to it that his crew is doing the job according to code. I have met and worked under some really stupid and incompetent foremen. The electrical inspector is suppose to be the safety margin that catches work that is not to code. After reading through all the pages here it is my "opinion" that the conduit was not installed at the correct depth. A concrete drill bit went through the conduit possibly nicking the hot wire(s). Its possible to do and not have sparks or get shocked due to the double insulation of commercial power tools. A metal rail post anchor came in temporary contact with the wire do to ground vibrations that are not normally felt of wires shifting a tad. The contact was but for a moment and at the same time the child was touching the rail. The wire shifted enough to no longer be in contact with the anchor. The anchor could be anywhere in the rail setup. Finding it might be accomplished via x-ray or turning the power off and removing 1 anchor at a time and putting a cell camera that you stick in small holes to see if wires are in view(some my not understand this process). Of course the companies involved are going to fight the lawsuit. The electrical inspector also needs to be sued for not making sure the conduit was installed at the proper depth. I never trust someone elses electrical work. I have seen too much dangerous shit done by others.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on July 09, 2019, 10:51:29 PM
You could be right about drilling through conduit-but its possible that it happened even with the conduit installed at the right depth.  I walked into a house that I was wiring one day to find 3" sheetrock screws laying around with the sheetrockers stuff.  With interior 2" X 4" walls, how could I put wires far enough from the surface to be safe?  (I was glad I was using AFCI breakers in that job.  That particular house burned to the ground a year after it was built.  I thought sure I would wind up with an insurance claim on that one.)  That's one of the challenges of a construction job-and for that matter a live sound gig.  There is more than one way to for things to go wrong-and you usually don't have control over everything.  That's part of the reason code seems like overkill at times.  That's also why it's not a good idea to do something that usually  "works"-like cutting off ground prongs, bootleg grounds etc..

That's why I questioned the lack of bonding on the railing earlier.  99.99% of the time bonding that railing would be redundant and really unnecessary.  Why do it?  I think the answer is obvious.

I'm hardest on the maintenance techs I supervise over safety issues. I've told them I do not want to face their family in a hospital or at a funeral home because I failed to enforce safety protocols.  It only takes once.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Frank Koenig on July 10, 2019, 11:47:13 AM
I'd suggest that lack of bonding/grounding is a secondary cause. The root (or primary) cause is whatever causes something that should not be energized to become energized. Bonding/grounding provides a secondary means of protection should the primary means of protection (electrical insulation or connecting things properly) fail.

But that's just nitpicking language.

Nitpicking perhaps, but correct. -F
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jeff Bankston on July 10, 2019, 11:12:09 PM
After asking a fellow commercial electrician and doing research how would you suggest bonding metal railing thats anchored to concrete ? Technically its already grounded via stainless steel anchors in concrete. I have never seen a ground strap at the base of a railing pole. I have been on many jobs where metal railing was installed and there was never anything on the plans about having a ground strap. Nothing is foolproof and imo it was the incompetence of the electrician to not look at the architectural plans before running the conduit to see where NOT to put it. If the electrician had looked at the plans he would have seen exactly where the railing was to be installed and put the conduit in a different location. We always have a complete set of plans so we dont put our conduit where it will interfere of be damaged by the other trades. The conduit was installed in the wrong location.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on July 11, 2019, 12:43:54 PM
From an article linked to in a previous post:

Investigators looking into the electrocution of a 6-year-old girl who was critically injured at MGM National Harbor say a device that controls the flow of electricity to lights on a handrail she touched was improperly installed, according to a preliminary assessment obtained by The Washington Post.

That faulty installation, combined with other flaws in how wiring and the handrail were hooked up at the Maryland complex, enabled 120 volts of electricity to be jolted into the girl — 10 times the amount that should have been powering the handrail lighting, according to the early findings.


Apparently this was not just a metal handrail, but a handrail lighted with "low voltage" wiring.  That makes it subject (in my opinion) to the NEC requirement that anything "likely" to become energized needs to be bonded to the building ground.  Electricians know that "bonding" is different than "grounding" and bonding requires a metalic path to the bonding point on the service-concrete does not meet that requirement.
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Jerome Malsack on July 16, 2019, 03:01:22 PM
Another point to note is in the news the Family has the little girl in a wheel chair and the mother had to leave her job to care for the child.  This has put the family in financial problems until they complete the process.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Family-of-Girl-Shocked-at-MGM-Fountain-Planning-to-Sue-500809161.html
Title: Re: Two shocked at MGM National Harbor
Post by: Hunk Huang on July 17, 2019, 11:26:06 PM
This is pretty close to me so I'm following it closely. Two days ago a little girl and a employee who rescued her were shocked at the new MGM National Harbor Casino in Baltimore. The young girl is still in critical condition.

From what I can determine from watching several news outlets, there was an energized handrail which the girl grabbed and couldn't let go of. But an MGM employee was able to pull her off, and he was shocked but not seriously.

I'll contact the local AHJ, but I'm pretty sure all metal handrails have to be bonded to building ground to meet code in this county.

2 injured by electric shock at MGM National Harbor; company calls it ‘horrible accident’
By Jennifer Ortiz June 27, 2018 10:33 am
   
WASHINGTON — A 6-year-old girl and a man are in the hospital from injuries they suffered from an electrical shock at MGM National Harbor Tuesday night.

The incident happened at the outdoor fountain area on the west side of the building just before midnight, said Prince George’s County Fire and EMS.

As the girl was shocked, an adult male employee of the casino stepped in to help and was shocked as well.

Prince George’s County Fire and EMS said the girl went into cardiac arrest on the scene. She regained a pulse while en route to the hospital but is still unconscious.

The girl remains in critical condition and the man is expected to be OK.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, an MGM spokesman said the area around the fountain had been closed to the public while investigators and the company’s engineers conduct a “comprehensive assessment of the situation.

MGM is “fully cooperating” with the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department, the spokesman said.

The statement provided to WTOP said the company was heartbroken over what it called a “horrible accident.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4rEwU4Xg8
WALL SCANNER is a very necessary tool when performing any unfamiliar installation environment