Inspection Detail

Inspection: 309287704 - Heidtman Steel Products

Inspection Information - Office: Fairview Heights Area Office

Investigation Summary

On March 2, 2007, Employee #1, the foreman for the job site, and coworkers were constructing an approximately 16 ft tall block wall. He was working from a 14 ft tall fabricated-frame scaffold. Employee #1 was dropping an approximately 15 ft long reinforcing rod into the wall when he either contacted an approximately 27 ft high, 34.5 kilovolt overhead power line or the line arced to the rebar. Employee #1 sustained an electrical shock and died 45 minutes later. Personal protective equipment was made available by the company and Employee #1 was wearing safety boots and had work gloves in his possession at the time of the accident. He was well trained in scaffolding and had completed a masonry apprenticeship.

Keywords: ELECTRIC ARC, ELECTROCUTED, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, WORK RULES, INATTENTION, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION