OSHA Inspection: WEST RIVER ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

Issued

Dec 15, 2022

Abate by

Jan 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $12,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.960(d)(1) Working from below. The employer shall ensure that each employee, to the extent that other safety-related conditions at the worksite permit, works in a position from which a slip or shock will not bring the employee's body into contact with exposed, uninsulated parts energized at a potential different from the employee's:  29 CFR 1926.960(e)(3) Loose conductors. When lines or equipment are connected to or disconnected from energized circuits, the employee shall keep loose conductors away from exposed energized parts:  (a)West River Electric Association, Inc. at 15571 South Antelope Creek Road, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to June 30, 2022, the employer did not ensure groundmen were protected from electrical shock by work-positioning in the event secondary cables became energized during meter loop installation. On June 30, 2022, a groundman suffered serious injuries including electrical shock and burns after secondary wires held by a lineman contacted the primary jumper. High voltage current traveled down the secondary cable into the meter loop where the groundman was in the process of securing the meter loop to the pole.  The current arced from the meter lug to the injured employee's hand traveling through their body and exiting through the gluteal area.