The IBEW loses Sister Katharina (Kat) Engnell, a licensed journeyman electrician from Local 46 in Seattle, Washington. Engell was electrocuted and died on the job on November 20, 2008 at the Saint Gobain glass plant.
Kat Engnell was an amazing woman. Originally from the South, Kat moved to Seattle after receiving her Masters Degree in Fine Arts. She bought a beautiful home in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood and then decided to become an electrician. She started attending the PSEJATC Apprenticeship program in 2000.
Kat was a most humble, hard working, serious electrician. Diversity and full inclusion in the electrical industry were passions of hers. The fact that a scholarship for those seeking to become Union Trades people is being funded in her name testifies to that. If you would like to donate, please make checks or money orders payable to the Katharina Engnell Memorial Schollarship Fund, Account 471001014441 at Key Bank.
Her interests included kayaking, raising hens, collecting antiques, creating and teaching art, politics, unionism, and rocking out to hippy music. If there was a party, Kat was there having a good time. She was a fantastic mechanic, intellectual, and a bohemian all in one. All who knew her can say that her kindness and generosity were boundless. She will be missed but will live on in the memories and stories of her, and in the kindness and care we show to each other in this truly dangerous field.
There is a memorial at the job site and a memorial service will be held at the IBEW Local 46 Hall in Kent, Washington on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.
For me, the loss of any worker on the job is tragic. But the loss of an electrician is personal.
My personal condolences to Kat’s friends and family. My thanks to Nicole Grant for this information.
Ms Sparky
IBEW Local 48
Portland, Oregon
Update: The following info was taken from IBEW Local 46 website.
This item was posted on the IBEW Local 46 web site
http://www.ibew46.com/kat.html :
IBEW Local 46 Electrician, Kat Engnell, was killed at work, Thursday,
November 20, 2008, during the day shift at the Saint Gobain glass plant. Kat
was up on a metal platform, like a catwalk, doing lighting maintenance. It
is normal to work on equipment up there while it is still ‘hot’,
unfortunately, while Kat was changing out a 500W 120V fixture, after making
sure that the ground and neutrals had both been made up, she was
electrocuted and died. She was found by a Local 46 Brother working on sight
who stayed with her body until the fire crew got her down and took her away.
The following comment was left via email by a Safety professional:
I suspect that she was not wearing rubber insulating gloves, considered by
most electricians as unnecessary and too cumbersome for this type of low
voltage work.
According to 1910 subpart S
1910.333(a)(1) “Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be
deenergized before the employee works on or near them….” (does not apply to
circuits of 50 volts or less)
1910.333(a)(2) “If the exposed live parts are not deenergized (i.e., for
reasons of increased or additional hazards or infeasability) other
safety-related work practices shall be employed …”
1910.335(a)(1)(i) Employees working in areas where there are potential
electrical hazards shall be provided with, and shall use, electrical
protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body
to be protected and for the work to be performed.
NFPA 70E 2009 – Table 130.7(C)(9)
Panelboards or other equipment rated 240 volts and below
Work on energized electrical conductors or circuit parts, including voltage
testing requires the use of Rubber Insulating gloves and Insulated or
Insulating Tools.
My condolences to Kat’s friends, family and union brothers and sisters.
Our deepest sympathies.
My heart goes out to her family. They are in our prayers this season.
sorry to hear about sister kat. our thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Jesse Campau
ibew 441 o.c. cal.
They should have given her a toolie.
This could have been prevented.
Lets get rid of the state run safety program here in Washington.
LnI DOSH
The standards exceed the federal standards.
But people who run that office are too easily paid off.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Yes..I agree, a toolie is always better. My question is, Why was it still energized?
Yes..I agree, a toolie is always better.My heart goes out to you & your family.Our prayers are with you.Preventable yes. Could have happened to anyone one of us whose been in the field for awhile . So sorry .
I do agree a toolie would have been a good idea. Any time someone works something hot they usually aren’t alone. And none of us can’t say we haven’t done it before. What happened to Kat was terrible. She always tried so hard to do her job no matter what. She was a great lady who also put herself fully into whatever she did. I just would like to tell her family and all of her close friends how sorry I am for the loss of Kat. Rest in Peace.
My condolences to Kat’s friends, family and my fellow union brothers and sisters.
Sister Christine Hendriks, Brockville ON
Local #115
I knew Kat as a gung-ho kayaker and great person. I am disappointed that there are no more details as to her death. Are the standard practices not really acceptable? Rock on Kat………Susan
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I can’t sit here and honestly say I’ve never worked anything hot when I could’ve turned it off. In this day and age we all know what the safety protocols are. Right or wrong, good or bad, sometimes we choose to work it hot anyway. But, this is why we shouldn’t.
Let’s face it, most of us are “required” to work on energized equipment because no one will accept written liability in the event of something tragic like this were to happen…and to be honest, our jobs are on the line should we refuse to do so or require the circuit to be de-energized which would prove to be “inconvenient” to the customer or client. What client is going to authorize wiremen to shut down a panel in order to land wires on a breaker or pull wire into a hot panel, etc.? To be honest, safety is our sole responsibility, so I suggest insulated gloves be part of each and every local’s required journeyman tool-list. Apprentices should never be required or asked to work things hot because they just haven’t got the experience to do so. Hot kits should be in every jobbox, every service truck, every jobsite where T.I. is being performed…but contractors are scared their tools will disappear if they stock them. Perhaps they need to get sued up their asses for loss of life a few times before they wise up. Our hearts and prayers go out to Kat’s family.
As a couple of points of clarification: Kat *was* using insulated tools, as per the relevant code sections. I know, I bought them for her. She also did have a tool partner at the time, as well as an insulated mat. All the safety precautions, were just not enough that day; a wet glove and that was all it took. We all know this is a dangerous business, and whenever you think you can cut corners, remember that if it could happen to Kat, it could happen to anyone. I never had the chance to say goodbye to Kat, or to tell her many other things I wish I had been able to say. Please, be safe every day. No job is worth the heartache of never seeing your family and friends again.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thank you for clarifying. I was hoping someone would update me after the investigation was over.
I’m sorry for your loss. Anytime loss of an IBEW Sister or Brother is felt by all. We know on any given day under the right (or wrong) circumstances it very well could be us.
Such a tragic event. My thoughts are with her family. It is a sobering reminder that we indeed have a dangerous profession.
Respectfully,
Jennie Kordenat
IBEW Local 970
Yes….very tragic!
Fraternally.
Debbie Crawford
IBEW Local 48