Con Ed Manager Burned While Working Underground In Manhattan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Con Edison employee was injured Wednesday afternoon while working in a manhole or service box on W. 70th Street in Manhattan.

The victim, who is believed to be a Con Edison manager, was burned on the face as he worked at the underground location around 1 p.m.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before seeing the victim being helped out of the ground by fellow workers.

The victim suffered facial burns and is still in the hospital.

The injured man was filling in for one of 8,500 union workers, who are still locked out as part of a contract dispute.

The man hurt Wednesday is the second manager injured on a job since the lockout started. Another manager was burned in a substation fire in Bensonhurst on Monday.

Con Ed and Union officials are scheduled to return to the table on Thursday. Medical benefits, pay raises and pensions are the main sticking points.

On Wednesday Con Ed announced a five-percent voltage reduction in Flatbush, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Canarsie, Flatlands, Mill Basin, Old Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, Georgetown, Coney Island, Seagate, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Sheepshead Bay.

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