Abstract: AN EMPLOYEE IN AN AERIAL LIFT WAS TRIMMING A BRANCH OF A LIVE WALNUT TREE ALONGSIDE A ROAD. THE BOTTOM OF THE BUCKET FROM WHICH HE WAS WORKING CONTAINED WET DEBRIS TO A DEPTH OF ABOUT 1.5 INCHES. AS HE STARTED TO CUT THE BRANCH, THE BUCKET CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A 7200-VOLT OVERHEAD POWER LINE. IT IS BELIVED THAT THE EMPLOYEE POSITIONED THE BUCKET SO THAT THE OVERHEAD LINE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BUCKET'S DRAINAGE HOLE TO ALLOW CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE WET DEBRIS. THE CURRENT PASSED FROM THE POWER LINE THROUGH THE DEBRIS, THE EMPLOYEE, AND THE CHAINSAW HE WAS HOLDING TO THE LIVE TREE, WHICH CONDUCTED THE CURRENT TO GROUND. THE EMPLOYEE WAS ELECTROCUTED.