Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: ELECTRIC

Minn. Stat. 182.653 subd. 2: The employer did not furnish to each employee, conditions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards which caused or were likely to cause death or serious injury to employees: On October 20, 2001, employees of The City of Luverne/Public Utilities Department were exposed to potential electrocution hazards due to the fact that the ground wire did not have an impedance low enough to cause prompt operation of circuit protective devices when it became energized. The vertical ground wire was tested on Oct 20, 2001 and found to be energized at approximately 882 volts AC, after an employee of RCH Cable Sales Company of the Midwest, Inc. was electrocuted on a power pole. The power pole was located at the northwest corner of the National Guard Armory in Luverne, MN. The vertical ground wire was not connected to a suitable grounding electrode. After a Mediacom, MN, LLC employee received an electric shock on the same power pole on September 28 2001, the lines and equipment were not adequately tested to identify what was energized.