OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14446678
ELEC PROTECT EQUIP,SERVICE CONDUCTOR,ELECTRICAL,E PTD,ELEC UTILITY WORK,ELECTRIC SHOCK,FALL,FALL PROTECTION,AERIAL LIFT
Event description
FALL FROM AERIAL LIFT - PROBABLE ELECTRIC SHOCK
Investigation abstract
AN EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING IN THE BUCKET OF A TELECON HI-RANGER, TWO-SECTION, FOLDI E NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR AND THE ENERGIZED PHASE CONDUCTOR, AND HIS REACTION TO THE R ESULTANT ELECTRIC SHOCK CAUSED HIM TO FALL OUT OF THE BASKET TO THE GROUND, 20 T O 25 FEET BELOW. HE LANDED ON A CONCRETE SIDEWALK, SUFFERING MULTIPLE INJURIES, SUCH AS A BRAIN CONCUSSION AND SEVERAL BROKEN BONES. A SAFETY BELT (PROPERLY ATT ACHED TO THE BOOM) AND HIS RUBBER GLOVES WERE FOUND IN THE BUCKET WHEN IT WAS LO WERED TO THE GROUND. HIS DOCTOR REPORTED THAT THE EMPLOYEE WILL NEVER COMPLETELY RECOVER AND WILL HAVE PERMANENT AMNESIA. THE EMPLOYEE WAS STILL UNCONCIOUS 2 WE EKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. NG-TYPE AERIAL LIFT. HIS ASSIGNMENT WAS TO CUT AN ENERGIZED, 240/120-VOLT TRIPLE X CABLE SO THAT THE CABLE RUN COULD BE LENGTHENED AND RAISED. A NEW LONGER POLE HAD BEEN SET BESIDE THE SHORTER EXISTING POLE FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE TRIPLEX SERV ICE DROP RAN FROM THE TOP OF THE SHORTER POLE TO A CUSTOMER'S METER BASE. THREE OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE ON THE GROUND ENGAGED IN OTHER ACTIVITIES; HOWEVER, THERE W ERE NO WITNESSES TO THE EXACT CHAIN OF EVENTS. THE EMPLOYEE IN THE BUCKET WAS CU TTING ONE OF THE INSULATED CONDUCTORS WITH 9-INCH SIDE-CUTTING PLIERS, BUT WAS N OT WEARING INSULATING GLOVES. HE PROBABLY MADE SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT WITH THE BAR
Victim
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 32 M
- Nature of injury
- 6
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 5
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 577
- Human factor
- 20
- Environmental factor
- 18
- Hazardous substance
- 8870
- Task assigned
- 1
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