Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200673655 - Three employees shocked when drill rig strikes power line

Accident Summary Nr: 200673655 -- Report ID: 0418800 -- Event Date: 02/27/2002
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304251226	02/28/2002	1799	0	Dtd Contract Drilling, Inc

Abstract: At approximately 9:00 a.m. on February 27, 2002, Employees #1 through #3 were using a tripod test boring drill to perform a soil compaction test in the back yard of an existing house. The operation involved drilling in 5 ft increments, raising the drill, removing the drill head, and attaching a spoon. This set-up was hammered in for 24 in. The spoon was then raised and removed, and the drill head re-attached, starting the process over again. The crew had reached the 30 ft mark and the spoon was being raised to switch with the drill when a high gust of wind came out of the west. This, coupled with the drill rig's high center of gravity due to the approximately 40 ft of drill pipe above ground, and the fact that the tripod not anchored, caused the rig to overturn. As it fell, it contacted a 13,200-volt overhead power line. Employees #1 through #3 received electric shocks and sustained injuries requiring hospitalization. They were not aware of the power line because there had been no pre-work inspection of the site.

Keywords: HIGH WIND, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, UNSECURED, WORK RULES, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION, DRILL RIG--NON-OIL, ELECTRIC SHOCK, OVERTURN, UNSTABLE POSITION

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Single family or duplex dwelling		Maintenance or repair		Under $50,000	1

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	304251226	Hospitalized injury	Electric Shock	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities) Fatality Cause: Electric shock, other and unknown cause
2	304251226	Hospitalized injury	Electric Shock	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities) Fatality Cause: Electric shock, other and unknown cause
3	304251226	Hospitalized injury	Electric Shock	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities) Fatality Cause: Electric shock, other and unknown cause

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