Pacific Gas and Electric Company Reports Contractor Injury at Hydroelectric Project

Strategic Insights -

A Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) contractor was injured in a work-related incident on July 3, 2025, while working on a project to repair a landslide area near the Pit 5 surge chamber and valve house, part of PG&E's Pit 3, 4, 5 Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 233. The incident involved contact with a Skid Steer tractor when the equipment drive was accidentally engaged, causing the tractor to roll onto the worker's foot and leg.

Key Takeaways:

  • The incident occurred on July 3, 2025, and resulted in a serious injury to a PG&E contractor.
  • The contractor was injured when the Skid Steer operator accidentally engaged the equipment drive while attempting to hand a radio to his coworker without first engaging the parking brake or shutting down the Skid Steer.
  • The coworker who was injured was also inadvertently placed in harm's way by approaching the Skid Steer and putting himself in the 'line of fire' of the energized equipment.
  • An immediate safety stand-down of all site work on the project was implemented for the day following the incident.
  • The Skid Steer operator involved in the incident will not be returning to this project as he has not demonstrated the proper qualifications for safe equipment operation.
  • All project crew members were reminded of the expectation that equipment is to be disengaged when approached by someone on the ground, and that personnel working around energized equipment will not put themselves in the 'line of fire' of energized equipment.
  • The incident resulted in minimal impacts to construction and no impacts to project operations.
  • A signed and notarized verification form for this report, in accordance with FERC guidelines (CFR Title 18, Section 12.13), is included in Exhibit 1.

Statistics:

  • 1 contractor was injured.
  • The incident occurred on July 3, 2025.
  • The contractor was treated at Mercy Hospital in Redding on July 3, 2025.
  • The contractor was released on July 5, 2025.
  • The safety stand-down lasted for 1 day.
  • The incident resulted in minimal impacts to construction, with no impacts to project operations.

Sources:

  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company (2025), Letter to Frank L. Blackett, dated July 28, 2025
  • Code of Federal Regulations, Title 18, Section 12.10(b)
  • Code of Federal Regulations, Title 18, Section 12.13 Verification Form