Abstract: An employee was erecting the third section of a mobile scaffold. An apparent ground fault had energized a copper water pipe near the scaffold. As the employee was standing on the third, or top plank, section of the scaffold, he grabbed the water pipe for balance to install the 28-foot section of planking and finish the installation. He received an electric shock and was unable to let go of the pipe. A circuit breaker tripped, deenergizing the pipe. The employee's hand released its grip, but he was rendered unconscious for 1 to 2 minutes. The employee was transported to a hospital, where he was treated for burns on his left hand and was held overnight for observation. He was released the following day.