Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126491794 - Duke Power Company

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Investigation Summary

Two power line workers were replacing a utility pole. They were completing a job that had been temporarily halted because of a hurricane. All energized parts in the area were covered with insulating blankets, except for one 7200-volt jumper that had been left from the previous job. One of the employees was working from an aerial lift, while the other was on the ground. The employee on the ground lifted a section of PVC conduit containing a cable to the employee in the aerial lift. The employee on the ground held the conduit against the pole while his coworker nailed a strap to the pole to hold the conduit in place. As they were doing this, the end of the cable, which was sticking out the conduit at the top, swung around and contacted the uncovered jumper wire. The employee at the ground contacted the ground end of the cable while it was energized and received an electric shock and burns. He was hospitalized at a burn center for treatment of second- and third-degree burns to his thighs, trunk, neck, and head.

Keywords: BURN, ELEC PROTECT EQUIP, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, ELECTRICAL, POWER LINE WORKER, E PTD, ELEC UTILITY WORK, ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR, ELECTRIC SHOCK, UTILITY POLE