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Accident: 124895.015 - Employee Is Killed When Energized While Tree Trimming

Accident: 124895.015 -- Report ID: 0950615 -- Event Date: 03/18/2020
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
1470452.01503/18/2020Superior Tree Service Inc.
At approximately 4:37 p.m on March 18, 2020, Employee # 1 was in a tree, trimmin g the tops of trees at a private residence. He was using a pole saw, approximate ly 9 feet 6 inches long, without insulation, while working within 10 feet of ene rgized power lines. He was holding the pole with both hands. The back of the tre e was about 7 feet 6 inches from the power lines and the front was approximately 4 feet 2 inches of the 21,000 volt power lines. Employee # 1 made contact with the power lines, was electrocuted, causing him to catch on fire for almost an ho ur before the power could be shut off and fire department could retrieve him. He was killed. He died of cardiac arrest primarily and secondarily of burning to d eath internally. Employee # 2, the supervisor/sales rep, was responsible for set ting crews up for jobs, look for site specific hazards and address those hazards in a safety meeting prior to work starting. He did not do that, nor did he ensu re the power was shut off prior to work starting. The fire department notified the district office at approximately 6:00 p.m. and the CSHO arrived on the scene at approximately 7:00 p.m., the same day while Employee # 1 was still onsite. E mployee # 1 was still in the position that EMS left him after they tried to revi ve him. He was laying supine, with electrical burn marks on both hands.
Keywords: burn, cardiac arrest, contact, elec insulation, electrocuted, fire, fire brigade/department, insulated tool, power lines, saw, tree, tree trimming, utility pole, work rules
Employee # Inspection Age Sex Degree Nature Occupation
1 1470452.015 25 M Fatality Laborers, except construction

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