Three fiber optic cable installers killed by contact with power line.
NIOSH 1998 Oct; :1-6
A 41-year-old journeyman lineman, a 38-year-old journeyman lineman and a 24-year-old, all working as cable installers in aerial line construction, were killed when a guy wire contacted an 8,000 volt above ground power line. The 41-year-old and the 38-year-old were electrocuted and the 24-year-old died the following day as a result of electrical burns. There were no witnesses to the incident, but it appears a guy wire was disconnected by the victims and it contacted an 8,000 volt overhead power line that grounded to earth. The Nebraska Department of Labor Investigator concluded that to prevent future similar occurrences: 1. Employers and employees should ensure only qualified personnel (in this case power company personnel) disconnect guy wires around energized power lines. 2. Employers should ensure all personnel are trained to assess an incident scene to determine if it is "safe" before entering to attempt rescue of personnel. 3. Employers and employees should ensure the area where fiber optic cable comes up from below ground for connection with existing power poles is clear of obstructions. 4. Employers should develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive safety program that includes, but is not limited to, training in all hazard recognition.
Region-7; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Work-operations; Work-analysis; Work-areas; Work-performance; Work-practices; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Protective-measures; Safety-programs; Electric-properties; Electrical-burns; Electrical-equipment; Electrical-fields; Electrical-hazards; Electrical-industry; Electrical-properties; Electrical-safety; Electrical-workers; Electricity; Electrocutions
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Nebraska Department of Labor