Inspection Detail

Inspection: 311529531 - Tierney & Stallings

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Investigation Summary

On February 12, 2009, Employee #1, a 22-year-old male painter, with Tierney & Stallings was working with another painter and engaged in a painting operation of a TACO Bell sign pole. The setup for the painting operation started approximately 2:00 p.m. by positioning the aerial lift and preparing the paint. This took approximately thirty to forty minutes. The painters commenced painting at around 3:00 p.m. and the sign pole height was approximately fifty feet in height. Employee #1 used a trailer mounted z-boom aerial lift, model TZ-50, manufactured by Genie, to paint the upper third of the sign pole and the coworker painted the bottom third of the pole. Each painter used roller brushes. Measurement of the lateral distance between the overhead wire and pole was approximately thirteen feet apart from the top most overhead wire. At around 4:00 p.m. the coworker realized that more paint was needed to complete the last section of the pole, the middle third section. The coworker poured the remaining paint into one bucket in order for Employee #1 to start painting the middle third of the pole. The painting lasted for approximately twenty minutes before the coworker stated to Employee#1 that he was going to the store to get more paint. The coworker stated that Employee#1 was to descend from the aerial lift until more paint arrived to complete the middle of the third section of the pole. Employee #1 was descending when the coworker left the site approximately 4:30 p.m. The coworker returned approximately 5:00 p.m. and noticed Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and law enforcement vehicles at the job site. The coworker was told by a law enforcement official that Employee #1 was electrocuted when his forehead came in contact with the top most overhead wire. The coworker was also serving as the foreman of the painting team.

Keywords: OVERHEAD POWER LINE, ELECTROCUTED, PAINTER, AERIAL LIFT