Abstract: A crew of four power line workers, two journeymen, one foreman, and one apprentice, was digging a hole to set a new utility pole for an existing 7200-volt overhead power line. Without protecting the power line from contact by the boom, the employees used the auger on a digger-derrick to dig the hole for the pole. After digging the hole, the auger was full of dirt and needed to be cleaned before it was stowed. One of the journeyman power line workers was using the controls on the side of the truck to operate the auger. He moved the auger about a half meter away from the newly dug hole to provide clearance for the apprentice to hand clean it. The apprentice used a metal-blade putty knife to scrape the dirt from the auger. The boom operator raised the auger to make it easier for the apprentice to reach the lower blade area. When the auger was approximately 610 millimeters above the ground, the boom contacted the power line, electrocuting the apprentice. He had not been wearing rubber insulating gloves while he was cleaning the auger. The digger-derrick had not been grounded.