Inspection Detail

Inspection: 122041973 - Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Inspection Information - Office: Milwaukee Area Office

Investigation Summary

An underground transformer supplying service for a residential complex had been repaired. A troubleshooter with 42 years of experience was dispatched to reenergize the line supplying the transformer. The employee was working from a utility pole at the primary (4800-volt) level. There were two parallel lines, an east and a west, descending the pole at this point. Only the west line was deenergized; the east line remained energized. The employee was to remove the three grounding jumpers from the pothead stirrups located on the lower crossarm and then from the grounding bracket on the other side of this crossarm. Then he was to reenergize the west line. The employee positioned himself on the south side of the pole--he was facing north with the energized east potheads to his right. The horizontal distance between the grounding bracket and the nearest energized pothead was about 400 millimeters. The employee had removed the three grounding jumpers from the west potheads and had started to remove the jumpers from the grounding bracket. He was using metal pliers and leather wristlet gloves for this purpose. (He was not wearing rubber insulating gloves, nor were the energized east potheads or lines covered with rubber insulating equipment.) The employee contacted an energized east pothead with his right forearm while his right hand was touching the grounding bracket. The employee was electrocuted.

Keywords: ELEC PROTECT EQUIP, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, ELECTRICAL, POWER LINE WORKER, ELECTROCUTED, E PTD, ELEC UTILITY WORK, UTILITY POLE