Inspection Detail

Inspection: 799403 - Insulator Maintenance Company Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Wilkes Barre Area Office

Inspection Nr: 799403

Report ID: 0317700

Date Opened: 07/27/1988

Site Address:
Insulator Maintenance Company Inc.
Hawes Street (Gte Products Corp., Substation #1)
Towanda, PA 18848

Mailing Address:
Box 38, Zelienople, PA 16063

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:7699

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Complete

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 08/08/1988

Planning Guide: Safety-Construction

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 01/25/1989

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360669493

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	3			1		4
Current Violations	3			1		4
Initial Penalty	$420	$0	$0	$0	$0	$420
Current Penalty	$420	$0	$0	$0	$0	$420
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Latest Event
1.	01001A	Serious	19100067 B04 I	08/30/1988	09/04/1988	$180	$180	$0	-
2.	01001B	Serious	19100067 C02 IX	08/30/1988	09/04/1988	$0	$0	$0	-
3.	01002	Serious	19100067 C02 V	08/30/1988	09/04/1988	$180	$180	$0	-
4.	01003	Serious	19100219 H01	08/30/1988	09/04/1988	$60	$60	$0	-
5.	02001	Other	19030002 A01	08/30/1988	09/04/1988	$0	$0	$0	-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14330385

Event: 07/26/1988

ELECTRIC SHOCK & FALL - DIRECT CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD LINE

AN EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING FROM AN INSULATED AERIAL LIFT, CLEANING INSULATORS, BUSHINGS, AND LIGHTNING AND STRAIN ARRESTORS IN A SUBSTATION. HE HAD BEEN USING A 0.75-INCH-DIAMETER, 13-FOOT-LONG FIBERGLASS WAND TO SPRAY THEM WITH GROUND CORN COB ABRASIVE UNDER PRESSURE. THE EMPLOYEE IN THE LIFT SIGNALED THE GROUNDMAN THAT HE HAD FINISHED, AND THE GROUNDMAN WENT TO TURN OFF THE AIR PRESSURE ON THE COB MACHINE. THE GROUNDMAN LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT THE BUCKET WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE MIDDLE PHASE CONDUCTOR OF A 34.5-KILOVOLT OVERHEAD POWER LINE. THE EMPLOYEE IN THE LIFT MOVED THE BUCKET, CARRYING THE MIDDLE PHASE OVER TO ONE OF THE OUTSIDE PHASE CONDUCTORS. THIS CREATED AN ELECTRIC ARC, RESULTING IN A LOUD CRACKLING SOUND, FIRE, AND SMOKE. THE EMPLOYEE IN THE LIFT THEN ATTEMPTED TO GET THE PHASE CONDUCTOR OFF HIS BACK, WHERE IT HAD LANDED. THE OPERATOR SLUMPED FORWARD, WITH HIS ARMS HANGING LIMPLY OVER THE SIDE OF THE BUCKET. HE SLID OUT OF THE BUCKET AND FELL 53 FEET TO THE GROUND, STRIKING HIS HEAD AGAINST THE AERIAL LIFT TRUCK'S FRONT FENDER ALONG THE WAY. THE EMPLOYEE DIED OF INJURIES HE SUSTAINED IN THE FALL.

Keywords: ELEC PROTECT EQUIP, OVERHEAD POWER LINE, ELECTRICAL, POWER LINE WORKER, E PTD, ELEC UTILITY WORK, ELECTRIC SHOCK, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, AERIAL LIFT

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	799403			Fatality	Concussion	Electrical power installers and repairers

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