Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » Overhead line incidents

Electrical Accident in Phillipines Kills One and Injures Six

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:55:35 +0000

One worker died and six others were hurt after a metallic bar they were holding came into contact with a high-voltage transmission wire on Dec. 7th. One worker was pronounced dead at the hospital and the others remain hospitalized.

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Staten Island, NY: Verizon Lineman Electrocuted

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:45:09 +0000

The Verizon Lineman was working on a utility pole from a bucket when he came into contact with power lines and was electrocuted. Emergency services responded but the lineman suffered severe burns and was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is underway.
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Canadian Utility Worker Electrocuted While Working on Power Lines

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:07:53 +0000

The utility worker was electrocuted while working on power line from a power pole. Co-workers witnessed the incident and lowered the man to the ground in his safety harness. First aid was administered and emergency medical personnel were called. The man was transported to the hospital by ambulance and died at the hospital later that afternoon. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety is investigating.

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Virginia Beach Electrical Worker Dies While Working on Electrical Pole

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:44:09 +0000

A 39 year-old man was electrocuted while working on a portion of the pole he had climbed. He came in contact with a live wire and was brought down from the pole by other workers. CPR was administered at the scene, but efforts were discontinued he was pronounced dead at the scene. OSHA is investigating.

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25-Year-Old Man Electrocuted in Tree Triming Accident

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:28:07 +0000

A 25 year old Colorado man was electrocuted while trimming trees when the arm of his bucket came into contact with a high-voltage line. The man was found unconscious in his bucket and was unable to be revived. It appears the line slid under the bucket and came into contact with the arm. OSHA is investigating.

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Two Electrical Contractors in Hyderabad, India Electrocuted – Family and Co-workers React Violently

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:37:37 +0000

The two Indian contractors were working on a high tension line at a 11KV feeder and were electrocuted as they descended the pole once their work was complete. The Etihad Electricity Contract Employees Union’s president claims that the superintendent engineer, divisional engineer and other officials were present at the scene when the incident occurred but sped away from the accident as the victims fell from the pole. Bystanders rushed the victiims to the hospital, where they later died.

Contract employees from Central Power Distribution Company Limited, reacting to the accident and dealths, disconnected power supply to part of the city. It took over 4 hours for power to be restored. The victims relatives and other members of the association of contract laborers reacted to the news by damaging furniture and equipment at the company’s offices and reportedly manhandling some of the staff. The union is demanding compensation for the family of the deceased and action against the officials who fled the scene.

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Ohio man in critical condition from burns received in arc flash incident

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:36:08 +0000

A 19-year old man who was working on a roof is in critical condition after suffering burns over 60 percent of his body after a piece of metal roofing material came in contact with a 7,200-volt power line. His burns were sustained when his clothing caught on fire following the arc flash.

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Philadelphia Amtrak Worker in Critical Condition Following Electrical Incident

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:35:32 +0000

The Amtrak worker, a man in his 40s, sustained an electrical shock from nearby power lines and is in critical condition. The accident occurred in North Philadelphia.

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Electrical Arc Sends Two Paving Crew Workers to the Hospital

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 24 May 2011 19:20:09 +0000

Two paving crew workers, the driver of the paver and a crew member walking beside the paver, were transported to the hospital when a loading truck that was dumping asphalt into the paver attracted an arc of electricity from an overhead wire. The truck did not come into direct contact with the wire but apparently was close enough to the wire to attract an arc of electricity. The driver of the paver was transported to the hospital for evaluation. The other worker was thrown approximately 5 feet and suffered burns to his hands. Many pavers wear vests of melting materials, sounds like the clothing did not ignite in this instance. ANSI 107 2010 requires that vests claiming to be flame resistant meet the proper standards. F1506 is proper for arc flash hazards. These workers should have not been exposed to arc flash but looks like it happened in this case.

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Western Massachusetts Electric Company electrical employee critically injured

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:19:04 +0000

A Western Mass Electric Company employee was found dangling 30 feet from a utiity pole in an unresponsive state. Police speculate that the worker may have come into contact with charged electrical equipment. He was rushed to the hospital Friday. Firefighters used a bucket truck to rescue him. The employee was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. The accident is under investigation.

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