Politics & Government
Update: Two City Electrical Workers Injured in Arc Flash Incident
Service director says both employees are hospitalized, but 'conscious and talking.'
Editor's note: This story was updated at 5:15 p.m. after the Cuyahoga Falls Service Department issued a press release.
Two employees of the Cuyahoga Falls Electric System were injured at about 1:15 p.m. Tuesday in an arc flash incident that occurred on State Road near the Alside Inc. property.
A full investigation into the incident – which happened while the employees were working on customer-premises equipment at the customer’s request – has been initiated by city officials.
Find out what's happening in Cuyahoga Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Service Department Director Valerie Wax Carr said early Tuesday afternoon that both workers were “doing okay and their families have been contacted. They’re conscious and talking.”
Police and fire scanner traffic indicated the two employees were transported to the burn unit at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Find out what's happening in Cuyahoga Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
City officials said that out of concern for the privacy of employees and their families, the city will not release the names or conditions of the employees without their permission.
"We ask for the understanding and patience of the public and members of the media in this matter," a city press release stated.
The electric department is one of nine city departments employing more than 300 public service workers that Wax Carr oversees.
The city has been providing residents and businesses with the benefits of public power through the Cuyahoga Falls Electric System since 1888, according to the department's website.