OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #608265

OVERHEAD POWER LINE,ELECTRICAL,TELECOM WORK,CABLE TV WORK,E TC,ELECTROCUTED,UTILITY POLE

1987-09-22T00:00:00

Event: OVERHEAD POWER LINE,ELECTRICAL,TELECOM WORK,CABLE TV WORK,E TC,ELECTROCUTED,UTILITY POLE
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 608265
Report ID: 418100

Event description

ELECTRIC SHOCK - CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD LINE THRU WOOD POLE

Investigation abstract

AN EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING A CABLE TELEVISION CABLE FROM AN OLD UTILITY POLE TO A NE W ONE. HE WAS WORKING FROM THE BUCKET OF A VERSALIFT AERIAL HOIST (SERIAL NUMBER 118229). HE HAD ATTACHED COME ALONGS TO THE CABLE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE AS HE TRA NSFERRED THE LINE FROM THE OLD POLE TO THE NEW ONE. A 20-KILOVOLT OVERHEAD POWER LINE ON THE OLD POLE WAS ABOUT 3.5 INCHES FROM THE NEW POLE. WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WORKED, THE NEW POLE CONTACTED THE POWER LINE. THE EMPLOYEE, WHO WAS APPARENTLY IN CONTACT WITH THE NEW POLE AND THE CABLE TELEVISION LINE, WAS ELECTROCUTED. ( THE ELECTRIC SHOCK ALSO CAUSED HIM TO FALL 23 FEET FROM THE AERIAL LIFT TO THE G ROUND. HE WAS NOT TIED OFF.)

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 27 M

Nature of injury
10

Part of body
5

Event type
13

Source
15

Occupation code
533

Human factor
10

Environmental factor
13

Hazardous substance
8870

Task assigned
1

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