Inspection Detail

Inspection: 979641.015 - Worldwide Construction & Restoration, Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Ft. Lauderdale

Investigation Summary

At 5:00 a.m. on June 7, 2017, two employees were working from the basket of an aeral lift on the west side of an existing building applying a self adhesive plastic film to the outside of windows and frames to protect them when the building was painted once prepared. The highest elevation that the employees needed to access was approximatly 21 feet (roof edge) above a lower level. There were overhead power and communication lines running parallel to the building where the three lowest wires near the work area were Telephone at 19 feet, Cable TV at 19 feet 10 1/2 inches, and a Neutral (ground) wire at 23 feet 7 3/4 inches above the ground and all three were approximately 5 feet 6 inches away from the building. The two highest wires were high voltage (7,620 volts) which were approximately 36 feet 2 inches above ground level and not accessible when working between the commuinication wires and building while under the building soffit which overhung the work area. At some point the employees lowered the lift enough to go under the communication wires, moved away from the building, then elevated the lift basket and themselves to the height of the powerlines where one empoloyee made contact with what seems to be the side of his head causing the basket and lift to also become energized shocking and injuriing the second employee occupying the basket. The employees were both transported to and admitted into a local hospital. On 06/07/2014 one of the employees passed away at the hospital due to his injuries. The other employee sustained shock and

Keywords:aerial lift, power lines