Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305350746 - Southern California Edison

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On June 4, 2003, an employee and a coworker were assigned the task of replacing a cross arm on a branch line electric pole, which was about 40-ft high. They had disconnected the branch line from the main line by using hot sticks. After replacing the damaged cross arm they were reconnecting the branch line to the main line when the accident occurred. They had both climbed up a utility pole about 40-ft tall using the appropriate climbing gears. The coworker was about 3-ft higher than the employee, working on the same pole. They were using hot sticks to make tap line connections. The employee was holding the jumper wires in place with a hot stick while the coworker was crimping the installing the connectors onto the lines using another hot stick. During this process, the employee came in contact with an energized line. From the burns, it appears that the current entered through his left palm and exited through his both calves, which were in contact with the pole. The employee suffered third degree burns on both legs and left hand. The employee was hospitalized and treated for electrical burns.

Keywords: BURN, ELECTRIC SHOCK, HAND, LEG