Inspection Detail

Inspection: 304383839 - Renaissance Siding Restoration Group Corp.

Inspection Information - Office: Tarrytown Area Office

Investigation Summary

On September 24, 2002, Employee #1 parked an aerial lift truck directly under a 28 ft 6 in. high transmission line. He was using the ground controls to raise the bucket when it contacted the 69-kilovolt line. Current flowed through the lift, Employee #1, and a box truck parked adjacent to the lift. The close proximity of the truck may have prevented Employee #1 from escaping the area after contacting the line. There were actually holes in the side of the box truck where the current passed through the employee's body from the aerial lift to the box truck. Employee #2 went over to aid Employee #1 and sustained serious burns when a second flash occurred. Employee #1 was killed and Employee #2 was hospitalized. OSHA later learned that the utility company manually reclosed the breaker after approximately 2.5 minutes, but it retripped and then was left open. The employer did not post and maintain proper warning signs, although employees said that they were told to keep equipment at least 20 ft away from the lines. It was apparently company practice to park and stow the lifts in the parking lot and raise the bucket a considerable distance above the ground.

Keywords: BURN, CLEARANCE, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, WORK RULES, FIRE, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION, ELEC CIRC PART--MISC, AERIAL LIFT