During a routine switch replacement, Basil Morin noticed something was wrong with the equipment before the job could be completed. A contractor was preparing to install a new normally open interrupter when Morin saw that the bypass blades did not appear to be right.

Morin realized the blades could touch when opened, which could have caused a phase-to-phase fault and a large arc flash because they were connected to opposite phases. He immediately stopped the job and notified his supervisor, and the contractor was asked to remove the switch and return it to the Pharr Service Center for inspection.

The Pharr team later discovered that the manufacturer had placed a component in the wrong location. The issue was corrected and reported to the equipment supplier. Morin, a 26-year field employee, said he is honored by the Good Catch recognition and believes safety is essential to protecting employees, the public and the electrical grid.