Arc Flash Survivor Story – Jason Brozen
Published 06 Jul 2021
Arc Flash Survivor Story
Arc Flash Coat
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Special thanks to Jason Brozen for sharing his story & ESPCO for the kind permission to republish
After surviving an arc flash accident, Jason Brozen made it his mission to share his experience to help others stay safe on the job. Jason is proud to join EPSCO and their industry-leading electrical safety team.
Jason shares EPSCO’s passion for safety and dedication to electrical safety training that’s on-the-level, comprehensive, and collaborative. We hope that his story will help increase your awareness and attention to electrical safety.
See the full interview and other stories from survivors by taking your next Electrical safety training course with One Moment.
Jason’s Survival Story
The morning started just like any other for Jason Brozen.
He showed up to work, got his assignment, and arrived at the job site thinking he’d get it done, punch out, and be back home with his family for dinner.
Jason had been a Master Electrician for over a decade and was fascinated with electricity for a long time before that. As a kid, he would ask for electronic toys for holidays and birthdays, just so he could take them apart.
He’d never had a major accident at work, so there was no reason for him to question his approach. This was a straightforward job installing a breaker he’d done hundreds of times before – and he’d gotten them all done without cutting power or wearing any PPE.
All Jason had to do was remove the breaker from the box, inspect it, fit the new breaker and bolt it in. But there were loose parts on the bus bar. As he tried to fit the breaker, the bars got too close and triggered a massive arc flash explosion.
Everything fell into slow-motion. Jason could feel the cycles of electricity ripping through his body. The arc flash was over in an instant but blasted him with more firepower than the surface of the sun.
The next thing Jason knew, he was on the floor in a pitch black room, choking on the smoke with the fire alarm blaring. He didn’t know if he was on fire, but realized he was severely burned as firefighters arrived on scene.
He knew right away he’d been involved in an arc flash incident, but he didn’t realize what it meant to be an arc flash survivor.
Here is the coat Jason was wearing when the ARC flash happened. It’s a miracle that it wasn’t fatal. Typically non rated clothing will ignite and glue itself to you or engulf your torso in flames.
He was one of the lucky ones. With only 14% burns he had a better chance for survival than most arc flash victims. But he never realized it would mean two weeks in an induced coma in the ICU and seven months of rehab before he could even think about returning to work.
Third degree burns destroyed everything down through his nerves, requiring skin grafts on his face and hands. Breathing in the hot gas left him coughing up soot from his lungs for weeks. In the hospital, Jason was immobile and had to rely on the nurses and staff for the simplest things. When he got released Jason couldn’t use his hands for anything. He couldn’t drive. Couldn’t get dressed on his own. Couldn’t even hold his own fork at dinner.
But the thing that caused Jason the most pain, was that he wasn’t able to provide for his family. It was a long and tough road for Jason to get back onto the field, but he did it. And now, he wants to share his story so that others won’t make the same mistake he did.
Jason was brave and generous enough to share his experience with EPSCO as part of our ONE MOMENT online electrical safety training series. We went in depth to create the most comprehensive arc flash survivor story out there. We had access to never before seen footage taken moments after Jason’s arc flash accident. But we want everyone to understand the damage goes far beyond the physical injuries – It effects your psychology, your family, your company and co-workers, and their clients too.
View the video and see how arc flash changed Jason’s life forever. See how being an arc flash survivor taught him to — “Plan your work. Work your plan. Follow through with that plan. And do not make exceptions on anything when it comes to safety.”
➡ Read Video Transcript here
The watch Jason was wearing when the accident occurred.
PROGARM, THE ARC FLASH SPECIALISTS
Arc Flash Protection | Arc Clothing | Polo Shirts | Jackets | Coveralls | Trousers | Helmets | Gloves
Thorne and Derrick distribute a range of LIFESAVING Arc Flash Protective Clothing from ProGARM – the leading UK manufacturer of high quality Flame Resistant & Arc Flash clothing, garments and workwear.
T&D are national distributors LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – we service UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, jointing, substation, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.
“At ProGARM our mission is protect lives through the manufacture and supply of exceptional quality Arc Flash and Flame Resistant Clothing. Being the only specialist Arc Flash protection manufacturer in the UK we focus on providing the best protection possible to those who work at risk of Arc Flash on a daily basis with our inherent, specialist garments and industry-leading innovation. Supporting Utilities, Power Generation, Rail & Petrochemical industries we work with Thorne & Derrick to educate, inform and supply those who work at risk everyday allowing us to keep protecting lives throughout the UK & beyond.”
Arc Flash Learning & Resources
Thorne and Derrick are proud to be distributors of ProGARM arc flash coveralls and protection.
We can help – should you require arc flash calculators or advice on the type of clothing and protection available please do not hesitate to contact us.
Closing Thought – statistics show that between eight and ten arc flash accidents occur in the UK every week. Protect yourself, contact us to learn how.
