More fatalities.

A few weeks ago, the Bellagio had a second major black-out. The media was not releasing the reason except that it was not due to the first.

The reason, very briefly, was that an electrician and a switchgear specialist were inspecting live switchgear. A ground-conductor had come loose, and fell across all three phases of the panel, causing an explosion and arc-flash. The switchgear specialist died only a day later. The electrician died last week, both from the severity of their burns, inside and out.

It is disturbing: Two journeymen from our local died from severe burns associated with arc-flash accidents in less than a year. Both were needless, preventable accidents. The dead-front should have never been removed, and safety precautions should have been met (such as
incorporating rubber shielding).

It is the third period apprentices--those beginning their second year—who begin working on live circuits. There are classes outside of the jobsite to help, but on-site training is just as necessary. We have just graduated to that category. I sincerely hope that our journeyman is qualified enough to not lead us into something irreversibly dangerous. It is time I stay mindful of the potential hazards at the jobsite, as Le Rêve will be incorporating permanent power in just a few weeks.