Inspection Detail

Inspection: 18086769 - San Carlos Irrigation Project

Inspection Information - Office: Region 09; San Francisco

Investigation Summary

A THUNDERSTORM HAD KNOCKED DOWN A POWER LINE ONE SUMMER DAY. A TWO-PERSON LINE CREW WAS SENT OUT IN RESPONSE TO A TROUBLE CALL ON THIS LINE. IT WAS DARK, AROUND MIDNIGHT, AND RAINING AT THE TIME. THE REPAIR CREW LOCATED THE LINE, AND ONE OF THE TWO POWER LINE WORKERS DETERMINED THAT THE FALLEN CONDUCTOR WAS A NEUTRAL. DURING THE COURSE OF HIS SURVEY OF THE WORK AREA, THIS EMPLOYEE, WHO WAS WEARING LEATHER GLOVES AND WESTERN STYLE BOOTS, GRABBED WHAT HE APPARENTLY ASSUMED TO BE THE NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR, RECEIVED AN ELECTRIC SHOCK, AND FELL ONTO THE CONDUCTOR. THE EMPLOYEE WAS ELECTROCUTED. THIS CONDUCTOR WAS ACTUALLY THE POLE GROUND, WHICH HAD BURNED THROUGH AT GROUND LEVEL AND WHICH WAS HANGING LOOSE FROM THE UPPER SECTION OF THE POLE. THE POLE GROUND HAD BEEN ENERGIZED BY A LOOSE PHASE CONDUCTOR THAT HAD BROKEN OFF AN INSULATOR AND THAT WAS LYING DIRECTLY ON THE CROSSARM ON THE POLE. THE PHASE CONDUCTOR WAS IN CONTACT WITH A BOLT SECURING THE BRACE FOR THE CROSSARM. THIS HAD ENERGIZED THE POLE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT NEITHER DEENERGIZING PROCEDURES NOR INSULATING PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WERE USED AND THAT THE EMPLOYER HAD AN INADEQUATE SAFETY PROGRAM.

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