Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200073138 - Employee suffers electric shock in work on power line, later

Accident Summary Nr: 200073138 -- Report ID: 0453720 -- Event Date: 03/15/2007
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
310400551	03/26/2007	1623	237110	Billings & Garrett, Inc.

Abstract: On March 15, 2007, the assistant foreman and track hoe operator instructed Employee #1 to get into the backhoe bucket to be lifted to power lines crossing the roadway. From the raised bucket, Employee #1 used rope to tie together three lower lines to increase the height of the wires. He was then raised to the energized top wire to tie the bundle of lower wires to it to increase their height. Employee #1 was apparently holding the three wires in his hand while being raised to the top wire, when either the bucket struck the line or he lost his balance and contacted the hot top wire. He suffered an electric shock and was set on fire, falling approximately 21 ft to the ground. Emergency Medical Services was called and transported Employee #1 to the local hospital, where he died nine days later.

Keywords: OVERHEAD POWER LINE, WORK RULES, ELECTROCUTED, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRIC SHOCK, FALL, LOST BALANCE, BACKHOE, BACKHOE BUCKET

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Single family or duplex dwelling		New project or new addition		$500,000 to $1,000,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	310400551			Fatality	Electric Shock	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Site clearing and grubbing Fatality Cause: Electrocution by touching exposed wire/source

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