Inspection Detail

Inspection: 123305278 - Mcphee Utility Power And Signal Ltd.

Inspection Information - Office: Bridgeport Area Office

Investigation Summary

A power line crew was replacing three-sheave temporary blocks with permanent Hendrix spacers. The employees were working in an east-to-west direction. The crew consisted of a journeyman power line worker, a third-year, fifth-step apprentice line worker, a fifth-year apprentice line worker, and a lead line worker. The journeyman and the third-year apprentice were working as a pair, using a 1992 GMC Topkick utility truck with an aerial lift attachment. The other two employees were working west of the first crew, using a 1989 F800 utility tuck with an aerial lift attachment. The journeyman was in his aerial lift, and the fifth-year apprentice was in the other aerial lift. The journeyman had positioned himself between a messenger and the existing, roadside phase conductor of the overhead line. As was working on the block, it apparently came too close to the phase causing an electrical fault. The ensuing electric arc engulfed the journeyman. The fifth-year apprentice lineman lowered himself to the ground, ran over to the other aerial lift, and, with his rubber insulating gloves and sleeves still on, used the ground controls to lower the injured employee. The two apprentices removed the injured employee from the bucket and placed him on the ground. The injured employee was conscious, so the apprentices did not perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. He was hospitalized for his injuries.

Keywords: BURN, ELECTRIC ARC, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, ELECTRICAL, POWER LINE WORKER, E PTD, ELEC UTILITY WORK, ELECTRICAL FAULT, AERIAL LIFT