Inspection Detail

Inspection: 102833910 - Flint Electric Membership Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Atlanta East Area Office

Investigation Summary

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE ASSIGNED TO RESPOND TO AN OUTAGE ON A 7200-VOLT OVERHEAD POWER LINE. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT A SET OF POLE-MOUNTED FUSES FOR THE LINE, THEY DISCOVERED THAT A FUSE FOR ONE OF THE PHASE CONDUCTORS WAS OPEN. THE LEAD POWER LINE WORKER (EMPLOYEE #1) ASSIGNED HIS COWORKER TO REPLACE THE FUSE WHILE HE RODE ALONG THE 1.5-MILE LINE. THE LEAD WORKER WAS TO RADIO BACK IF THE LINE WAS CLEAR AND IF IT WAS SAFE TO CLOSE THE FUSE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE LEAD WORKER CALLED HIS COWORKER AND LET HIM KNOW THAT A TREE HAD FALLEN ON THE LINE. HE TOLD THE COWORKER TO SIT CLEAR AND THAT HE WOULD REPORT BACK. TWO OTHER EMPLOYEES CALLED THE LEAD WORKER ON THE RADIO AND ASKED IF HE NEEDED ASSISTANCE. THE LEAD WORKER REPLIED THAT HE DID. THE TWO ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES REPORTED TO THE SITE OF THE FALLEN TREE AND BEGAN TO ASSIST. THE LEAD WORKER WENT UP IN HIS AERIAL LIFT, AT A TRANSFORMER POLE, CUT THE POWER LINE, AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. HE WAS WALKING TOWARD ONE OF THE OTHER TWO EMPLOYEES (EMPLOYEE #2), WHO WAS ON THE GROUND, MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TRANSFORMER POLE AND AN ADJACENT POLE. THE THIRD EMPLOYEE WAS ELEVATED IN HIS AERIAL LIFT AT THE ADJACENT POLE, REPAIRING THE LINES. THIS EMPLOYEE, WHO WAS WORKING WITHOUT RUBBER INSULATING GLOVES OR SLEEVES, CONTACTED THE ENERGIZED POWER LINE AND RECEIVED AN ELECTRIC SHOCK. THE OTHER TWO EMPLOYEES ALSO CONTACTED THE ENERGIZED LINE (ALTHOUGH THE REPORT DID NOT STATE HOW) AND RECEIVED ELECTRIC SHOCKS. EMPLOYEE #2 WAS ELECTROCUTED. EMPLOYEES #1 AND 3 WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR THEIR INJURIES.

Keywords: ELEC PROTECT EQUIP, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, ELECTRICAL, POWER LINE WORKER, ELECTROCUTED, E PTD, ELEC UTILITY WORK, ELECTRIC SHOCK, AERIAL LIFT