Abstract: A power line worker was repairing a deenergized power line. He was not using electrical protective equipment. The employee contacted an energized line and was electrocuted.

Abstract: A three-person power line crew, consisting of a lead power line worker, a journeyman power line worker, and an apprentice, was installing three arresters on a utility pole. The apprentice was laying out the arresters, and the journeyman was laying out material. The lead power line worker laid out the ground wire and then got into the bucket of an aerial lift and started bringing the ground wire up the pole. After passing the ground wire over the neutral on the pole, he went to raise the bucket to where the arresters were to be installed. The controls for the bucket were behind the employee, and he had to reach back for them. When he raised the bucket, he contacted a 13.8-kilovolt overhead power line with his right shoulder and received an electric shock. The employee, who was wearing only knit gloves at the time and not rubber insulating gloves, was holding the ground wire. The two other employees heard an electric arc and looked up to see the injured employee slumped over the side of the bucket. The journeyman used the controls at the base of the aerial lift truck to lower the bucket while the apprentice summoned emergency medical services. These two employees removed their injured coworker from the bucket and carried him to the side of the road. Emergency medical services arrived in minutes. The injured worker was hospitalized with severe burns to his left index finger and the back of his right shoulder. Doctors amputated the lower part of his left hand. The employer had a written safety program, documented safety rules, including the use of rubber insulating gloves, training records involving the injured employee, and past disciplinary action. The employer also did spot safety inspections of the work crews. On the morning of the accident, the employer had issued a violation to the crew for not wearing rubber insulating gloves Job briefings were conducted daily, and both uninjured employees on the site were trained in first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. The employees were also wearing "nonflammable" clothing supplied by the union. (The employer was a contractor working for an electric utility. The SIC code of the employer was apparently incorrect on the original form.)

Abstract: A three-person power line crew was working on a project to convert a single-phase overhead power line to a three-phase line. One of the three phases was energized that day, the first time that had happened over the course of the project. Under the instruction of a journeyman power line worker, an apprentice on the crew climbed a utility pole. He climbed within the minimum approach distance of the line and was electrocuted when he touched the energized phase conductor with his hand. Rubber insulating gloves and sleeves were available on the site, but the apprentice was not wearing them.

Abstract: A power line worker was reconnecting the first phase conductor on a three-phase 34-kilovolt power line. The line had been disconnected for testing following a fault on the line the night before. The employee was not wearing rubber insulating gloves. All three phase conductors were tested, and employees got what was believed to be a false alarm on the third phase. He retested and believed the lines to be deenergized. However, the line was still energized by stored charge in capacitors on the line. The testing equipment did not recognize or test for static charge. The employee was electrocuted when he touched the phase conductor.

Abstract: A power line contractor was hired to replace an existing power line in a remote community of Colorado. A power line worker employed by this contractor was working alone in an aerial lift near a 7620-volt overhead power line. He was not wearing rubber insulating gloves even though he was working inside the minimum approach distance for the power line. The employee contacted the power line and was electrocuted.

Abstract: A power line worker was on a utility pole, installing a transformer. As he was securing the transformer to the pole, a cross member supporting an overhead power line came loose. The cross member twisted, and the overhead power line contacted the hammer the employee was using. The employee, who was not wearing rubber insulating gloves, received an electric shock. He was hospitalized for his injuries.

Abstract: A power line worker was working on an overhead power line. An energized conductor line behind him was not fully insulated, and he was not using rubber insulating gloves or sleeves. The power line worker contacted the energized conductor while he was grounded through the conductor he was working on. He was electrocuted.

Abstract: A power line worker was working on a 4160-volt circuit breaker. The employee was apparently performing tests inside the breaker. The circuit breaker was energized, and a test meter was in place to test for unbalanced loads. The employee, who was not using electrical protective equipment, was electrocuted. The physical condition of the breaker, after the accident, indicated that the employee's hand contacted one of the fuses.

Abstract: A power line worker was removing an old J-hook from a utility pole. (The pole was an angle pole.) The employee was not using any electrical protective equipment even though rubber insulating gloves were available. He contacted a 7200-volt overhead power line with his left hand while he was holding a 12-inch crescent wrench. He was electrocuted.

Abstract: A power line foreman was working from an aerial lift, restringing an overhead power line. The line on the north side of the utility pole, where he was going to work, was deenergized. The foreman had a bare 2/0 copper conductor with him in the aerial lift bucket when he went up. The conductor was hanging from the bucket and went down along the ground to a spool. He was going to throw the conductor over the crossarm of the pole so that the ground worker could pull it. On his way up, the foreman moved the bucket to the south side of the pole to enable him to fix an insulator on the energized part of the line. He was standing on the conductor hanging from the bucket and was not wearing any electrical protective equipment. He contacted the energized side of the 2400-volt power line and was electrocuted.

Abstract: A POWER LINE WORKER WAS CONNECTING TWO CONDUCTORS ON A UTILITY POLE SUPPORTING AN OVERHEAD POWER LINE. HE WAS NOT WEARING RUBBER INSULATING GLOVES. THE EMPLOYEE TOUCHED THE 7200-VOLT PHASE CONDUCTOR WITH HIS FINGER AND RECEIVED AN ELECTRIC SHOCK AND BURNS. THE EMPLOYEE WAS TREATED AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND RELEASED. HE RECEIVED FURTHER TREATMENT FOR HIS INJURIES ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS.

Abstract: AN ELECTRIC UTILITY EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING ABOVE-GROUND TO UNDERGROUND WIRING. HE WAS NOT USING RUBBER INSULATING EQUIPMENT WHILE HE WAS WORKING WITH ENERGIZED PARTS OF THE 7200-VOLT ELECTRIC CIRCUIT. THE EMPLOYEE WAS ELECTROCUTED.