Narrative:

I was working the pasco (psc) sector when the facility received several electrical power surges. I was on an interphone line coordinating with another controller when I experienced a very loud bang and electrical shock through my left arm and left ear. My left arm was numb for several mins before developing a burning and tingling sensation. My radar scope was blank for several mins so I was scrambling to convert to non radar separation and procedures. As soon as I got things 'cleaned up' I advised my supervisor of what had happened and that I needed a break. Due to the pain in my left arm and left ear I sought and received medical attention. Electrical engineers from the FAA regional office were brought in to look at the equipment. It was determined that the equipment was improperly grounded and a surge protector needs to be installed. This facility was built in 1989. I am surprised that surge protectors were not installed considering all the sensitive electrical equipment that is used here. In order to prevent this from occurring at other facilities I believe surge protectors should be installed and safety inspections done to ensure the equipment is grounded. I was informed that the FAA knew about the inadequate grounding of the work stations at this facility but due to a 'lack of funds' the problem was not corrected. The problem was known to exist since 1991. It was just a matter of time before a controller or maintenance technician was shocked. The pain and tingling sensations in my left arm and left ear subsided 3 days later. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the equipment has been properly grounded, but is unaware if the surge protector has been installed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR RECEIVED A SHOCK WHILE ON THE INTERPHONE AT A RADAR POS.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE PASCO (PSC) SECTOR WHEN THE FACILITY RECEIVED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PWR SURGES. I WAS ON AN INTERPHONE LINE COORDINATING WITH ANOTHER CTLR WHEN I EXPERIENCED A VERY LOUD BANG AND ELECTRICAL SHOCK THROUGH MY L ARM AND L EAR. MY L ARM WAS NUMB FOR SEVERAL MINS BEFORE DEVELOPING A BURNING AND TINGLING SENSATION. MY RADAR SCOPE WAS BLANK FOR SEVERAL MINS SO I WAS SCRAMBLING TO CONVERT TO NON RADAR SEPARATION AND PROCS. AS SOON AS I GOT THINGS 'CLEANED UP' I ADVISED MY SUPVR OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THAT I NEEDED A BREAK. DUE TO THE PAIN IN MY L ARM AND L EAR I SOUGHT AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTN. ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS FROM THE FAA REGIONAL OFFICE WERE BROUGHT IN TO LOOK AT THE EQUIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE EQUIP WAS IMPROPERLY GROUNDED AND A SURGE PROTECTOR NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED. THIS FACILITY WAS BUILT IN 1989. I AM SURPRISED THAT SURGE PROTECTORS WERE NOT INSTALLED CONSIDERING ALL THE SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIP THAT IS USED HERE. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AT OTHER FACILITIES I BELIEVE SURGE PROTECTORS SHOULD BE INSTALLED AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS DONE TO ENSURE THE EQUIP IS GROUNDED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAA KNEW ABOUT THE INADEQUATE GROUNDING OF THE WORK STATIONS AT THIS FACILITY BUT DUE TO A 'LACK OF FUNDS' THE PROB WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE PROB WAS KNOWN TO EXIST SINCE 1991. IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A CTLR OR MAINT TECHNICIAN WAS SHOCKED. THE PAIN AND TINGLING SENSATIONS IN MY L ARM AND L EAR SUBSIDED 3 DAYS LATER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE EQUIP HAS BEEN PROPERLY GROUNDED, BUT IS UNAWARE IF THE SURGE PROTECTOR HAS BEEN INSTALLED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.