Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » Overhead line incidents

Construction Employee Electrocuted in NE

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:53:01 +0000

An employee of a contractor hired for a construction project was electrocuted while working on a utility pole in Dixon County Feed Yard in Allen, NE.

Click here to read the AP article dated 4/25/12.

Maintenance Worker Electrocuted in Jakarta

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:42:02 +0000

An employee from the South Jakarta Sanitation Agency was electrocuted when he touched the railing of a pedestrian bridge. He had been taking a break from cleaning ditches and was lying on his back on the bridge; a frayed power cable from a nearby utilty pole adhered to the bridge, transmitting the current to the man’s hand when he touched the railing. Electrical systems built according to codes and properly maintained do not cause these types of incidents. There are many standards in IEC on proper power line design. In the US the proper standard is NESC. Maintenance is critical for public safety.

Click here to read the article dated 4/11/12.

Electric Shock during Utility Pole Installation in Ottawa

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:44:57 +0000

Three contract employees of Ottawa Hydo suffered electrical shock when the boom on a machine used to install utility poles came into contact with overhead lines. One man was seriously injured & required CPR, while the other two received electrical shock in attempting to rescue their co-worker.

Click here to read the article dated 3/22/12.

Subcontractor Electrocuted Pine Bluff Arsenal in AR

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:10:02 +0000

When preparing to remove a 20′ section of pipe supported by hanger straps at a Pine Bluff Arsenal construction project, a subcontractor was electrocuted when the pipe slipped and one end came in contact with an overhead power line.

Click here to read the article dated 3/14/12.

Man in Ireland Killed in Crane Accident

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:07:07 +0000

A man from Donegal, Ireland, was electrocuted when the crane he was driving came into contact with overhead power lines.

Click here to read the article from 3/15/12.

Dump Truck Touches Power Lines in IL

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:40:43 +0000

Contacting high voltage power lines was the probable cause of the fire that destroyed a truck that was dumping a trailer load of sand at American Water Company in Pekin, IL. The driver was not aware of the contact, but only heard several pops as the tires blew. He leaped from the cab and was fortunate to not get hurt. When vehicles hit powerlines, the key is to jump from vehicle without touching the ground and vehicle at the same time and land with feet close together then shuffle or hop until at least 20 feet away to avoid being shocked by step potential. NFPA 70E defines step potential and requires DI shoes when it is potential (say equipment grounding near powerlines) but doesn’t require dump truck operators to use these special shoes meeting ASTM F2413 and ASTM F1117.

Click here to read the article dated 3/19/12.

Power Line Fatality in VT

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:32:24 +0000

A Vermont Electric Cooperative employee was killed when he fell & became entagled in electrical lines while performing routine maintenance.

Click here to read the article from 3/21/12.

Power Line Fatality & Injury in Clio, MI

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:15:11 +0000

Two roofing contractors from Clio, MI, were shocked when the ladder that they were struggling to put up next to a building to climb to the top of a two-story building drifted backwards and struck the power line. One man was electrocuted, and the other was shocked, but conscious, and alert on the ground. OSHA requries the use of NON CONDUCTIVE ladders on this type of work. Critical that all contractors use non-conductive ladders when working near power lines.

Click here to read the story from 3/2/12.

Cause of Electrocution in Fairhope, AL: Old Braces

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:13:31 +0000

An Electric Department Lineman from Fairhope, AL, was electrocuted last December when multiple old wooden braces broke and live electrical wires fell onto his back. The lineman survived the accident and is still recovering. The investigation indicates some possible factors: insufficient original brace strength, inability to compute load-bearing potential of braces, degradation of braces over time, and failure to recognize potential for braces failing simultaneously.

Click here to read the article dated 2/29/12.

Concrete Worker Suffers Burns Following Boom Accident in Tasmania

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:56:41 +0000

A Tasmanian worker controlling the boom from which concrete flows was burned when another portion of the pumping truck came into contact with high-voltage power lines carrying 11,000 volts. He sufferd entry and exit burns from the shock.

Click here to read the article from 3/1/12.