OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14468466

OVERHEAD POWER LINE,ELECTRICAL,TREE LIMB,ELECTROCUTED,E PTD,TREE TRIMMING

1988-03-12T00:00:00

Event: OVERHEAD POWER LINE,ELECTRICAL,TREE LIMB,ELECTROCUTED,E PTD,TREE TRIMMING
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14468466
Report ID: 155010

Event description

ELECTRIC SHOCK - DIRECT CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD LINE

Investigation abstract

A TREE TRIMMER WAS TRIMMING TREES AROUND A SHORT SPUR 7200-VOLT OVERHEAD POWER L INE. AFTER TRIMMING A SOFTWOOD TREE FROM THE BOTTOM UP, HE RAPPELLED DOWN THE TR EE. HE STOPPED HIS DESCENT TO REMOVE A BRANCH FROM THE NEUTRAL LINE. AS HE GRASP ED THE DETACHED BRANCH WITH HIS LEFT HAND, HE APPARENTLY PULLED HIS BODY (WHILE HE WAS SUSPENDED BY HIS BODY HARNESS AND RAPPELLING LINE) INTO THE POWER LINE. H IS RIGHT ARM, BETWEEN THE ELBOW AND THE SHOULDER, CONTACTED THE COVERED PHASE CO NDUCTOR. THE TREE TRIMMER WAS ELECTROCUTED.

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 29 M

Nature of injury
10

Part of body
12

Event type
13

Source
15

Occupation code
495

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
16

Task assigned
1

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