Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1323934.015 - Wabash Valley Service Company

Inspection Information - Office: Fairview Heights Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 5:00 p.m. on June 18, 2018, Employee #1 and #2 were spraying pesticides on a corn field. The weather was clear and warm. Employee #1 was operating a R4038 John Deere Boom Agricultural Sprayer. Employee #2 was operating the tank truck, also known as the nurse truck. Employee #1, the sprayer operator, had parked in a nearby grain bin area where the tank truck was waiting to refill his tank. When Employee #1 parked, he inadvertently placed the right 61 foot spray boom in an overhead 7,200 volt, primary single phase power line, which energized the boom sprayer. Employee #2 approached the sprayer with the three inch hose, and attempted to make a connection to the valve on the front of the sprayer. At this point, Employee #2 was electrocuted and killed. Employee #1 observed that the hose was smoking and then observed Employee #2s arms on fire, as well as noticing that the boom was in the power lines. Employee #1 immediately backed the equipment up to get the boom off of the wires, but Employee #2 was already dead.

Keywords: Agriculture, Agriculture Machinery/Vehicle, Electrocuted, Overhead Power Line, Tank Truck