Abstract: At approximately 4 p.m. on June 8, 2006, Employee #1, a lineman, was performing line maintenance. He climbed a power pole to strip a ground wire and reroute it near the neutral wire, which was about 60 in. below the live wire. Using a hammer and a screwdriver, Employee #1 began removing the staples holding the ground wire on the pole. He was standing on the pole with his left foot approximately 6 in. above the neutral wire when he brushed the 7,200-volt power line with his left shoulder and received a shock. Employee #1 sustained injuries to his right arm, which had to be surgically amputated just below the elbow, as well as damage to his left instep and to his right shoulder. Employee #1 had not been wearing any personal protective equipment, and he had not blanketed the line.