Inspection Detail

Inspection: 110345113 - Magnolia Tree Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Inspection Nr: 110345113

Report ID: 0625700

Date Opened: 10/19/1994

Site Address:
Magnolia Tree Co.
Liuzza Rd, 3-4 Mi. N.
Independence, LA 70443

Mailing Address:
Po Box 1582, Independence, LA 70443

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:0783

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: Y

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 10/19/1994

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 01/26/1995

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	361123532

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$4,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$4,000
Current Penalty	$2,400	$0	$0	$0	$0	$2,400
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citation Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100268 C	12/21/1994	01/16/1995	$2,400	$4,000	$0		I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 170080238

Event: 09/29/1994

ELECTRIC SHOCK - DIRECT CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD LINE

A line-clearance tree trimmer was trimming trees away from overhead power lines. The lines consisted of an 8000-volt, single-phase conductor with neutral, a 120/240-volt, single-phase overhead power line, and a cable television cable. According to the foreman on the job, the tree trimmer, who was working from a relatively new, insulated aerial lift, ducked down in the bucket of the lift as he moved it beneath the cable television line and the 120/240-volt secondary conductors. He trimmed some branches and then began moving back under the lines when a pickup truck approach the scene. The foreman called for the employee to hold up until the pickup truck passed. However, when the foreman looked back up, the tree trimmer was standing again, with his back against the secondary conductors. The two conductors were only 6 inches apart, and it was believed that the 280-pound, 6-foot-tall employee's momentum carried him into both conductors. The injured employee was lowered to the ground. Emergency medical services administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, then transported the tree trimmer to a hospital, where he died a short time later. He had been electrocuted. According to the employer, the line-clearance tree trimmer had prior experience and knowledge of electrical work and of the operation of an aerial lift. The employer stated that new employees work with a crew foreman for several weeks of on-the-job training before they are assigned to permanent crews. The employer could not, however, demonstrate that the deceased employee had received any training. (The crew foreman stated that he assumed that the employee was qualified.) Also, the crew was not using radio communication. It is possible that the employee misunderstood the foreman when he yelled to "hold up" and thought that it was safe to stand up.

Keywords: OVERHEAD POWER LINE, ELECTRICAL, CPR, ELECTROCUTED, E PTD, ELEC UTILITY WORK, UNTRAINED, COMMUNICATION, TREE TRIMMING, AERIAL LIFT

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	110345113			Fatality	Electric Shock	Forestry workers, except logging

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