Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200611325 - Employee injured in contact with overhead power line

Accident Summary Nr: 200611325 -- Report ID: 0111700 -- Event Date: 12/03/2001
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304554439	12/03/2001	1541	0	Seppala Construction Co., Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304554421	12/03/2001	1761	0	Aurora Structural Connections, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304554413	12/03/2001	1761	0	Crichton'S Metal Erectors Inc.

Abstract: On December 3, 2001, Employee #1, a helper, and a coworker, who was also the company owner, were using a scissor lift to install and weld steel panels onto the exterior of a one-story building. At the time of the accident, they were erecting girts along the end of the building. The company owner was doing the welding and Employee #1 was operating the lift. A foreman from the same firm was on the ground. He stated that, three different times, he yelled up to the worker and the owner, warning them of their close proximity to the overhead power line. After the third warning was shouted, Employee #1 allegedly turned and grabbed the nearest line with his hand, and saying something to the effect of "this line?". He suffered severe burns, both internally and externally, and several of his fingers had to be surgically amputated. As a result, he was lost the use of his hand. It was later determined that the lines involved were three phases, with a phase-to-phase voltage of 34,500 volts, and a phase-to-ground voltage of 19,900 volts.

Keywords: CLEARANCE, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, WORK RULES, ELECTRIC SHOCK, ELEVATED WORK PLAT, AERIAL LIFT, BURN, INSTALLING, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION

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

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	304554439			Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Fatality Cause:
2	304554421			Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Fatality Cause:
3	304554413	Hospitalized injury	Electric Shock	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Other Activities-Installing Ornamental And Archite Fatality Cause: Electrocution by touching exposed wire/source

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