Fatality Case Review

Region IV - OSHA

Tribute To A LinemanThe call comes in late at nightWire down people out of lights

You kiss your wife you don’t feel like goingThe rains pouring and the wind is blowingLong hours and bad weather, we face it all

The jobs not easy, but it was our callWe wanted to be Lineman, and climb the tall pole

To keep the meters turning is our main goalIt takes pride, integrity and a whole lot of guts

To do our job, though some think us nuts

Tribute To A LinemanLineman have a bond, a brotherhood you might say

It comes from the hazards and danger they face everyday

You trust your pole buddy you know he’ll be thereTo give you a hand high in the airThe wire is big the voltage is high

With God’s grace, he won’t let you dieWhen the work is all done, and day is through

We go home to our families, proud of what we do

Author William D. Jenkins

Fatality #1A lineman climbed a pole to examine a transformer for loose connections. The lineman grabbed both secondary lugs with his hands, and was electrocuted.

Accident Scene

Employee made contact with the hot and neutral secondary conductors

Recommendations:

Hold job briefing prior to the start of work.

Test poles before climbing.Wear rubber gloves when

working on energized parts.

Recommendations:

Require FR or 100% cotton clothing.

Prohibit the use of alcohol when on call or on duty.

Monitor employees on call to ensure compliance.

Fatality #2A right-of-way crew had broken a pole and anchor while clearing the right-of-way. A three man construction crew replaced the pole and installed a new anchors. While transferring the distribution lines from the old pole to the new one, and employee was electrocuted.

Recommendations: Determine existing conditions

prior to the start of work. Hold job briefings or Tailgate

meetings. De-energize and ground lines. Proper Usage of Personal

Protective Equipment.

Recommendations: Protector gloves not worn

over rubber gloves. Annual review of training. Certification of training. Maintain minimum

approach distance.

Fatality #3A construction crew was assigned to install service for two new businesses. The crew replaced a 35' dead end service, with a 40' banked service pole. A journeyman lineman, elevated in an aerial lift, was electrocuted when his arm made contact with the energized portion of a cutoff switch.

Recommendations: Maintain proper clearances. Insulate or isolate employees

from energized parts. Ground or barricade vehicles.

Recommendations: Flame retardant Clothing:

Inspect clothing regularly. Replace worn/damaged

clothing. Follow manufacturers

recommendations for laundering.

Fatality #4An employee wearing a synthetic tee shirt was electrocuted and severely burned when he came into contact with an energized cutoff switch. The employee was directed by his foreman not to go up in the bucket.

Recommendations: Require employees to wear flame

retardant clothing or 100% cotton clothing of the appropriate weight

Require employees to tie off when elevated in an aerial lift.

Inspect vehicles prior to usage. Ground or barricade vehicle(s).

Recommendations: Remove from service, or repair

defective equipment. Perform dielectric tests annually. Maintain test results for 5 years. Air test rubber gloves daily prior to

usage. Install backup alarms on all vehicles. Report all fatalities, immediately.

Fatality #5The victim, took a rubber blanket off the phase he was working on in order to close and properly aligned a disconnect switch. He then reached around and behind the disconnect to tighten the insulator with an un-insulated ratchet. The victim was electrocuted when his arm made contact with the energized potion on the switch.

Recommendations: Conduct job briefing. Require employees wear the

appropriate clothing. Ensure appropriate clothing is

being worn. Maintain proper clearances. Ground or barricade vehicle(s).

Fatality #6Employer hired to remove a switch. A groundsman retrieves a piece of copper wire from the back of a digger/derrick truck as the boom makes contact with an energized power line.

Recommendations: Designate an observer. Maintain proper clearances. Air test rubber gloves. Ground or barricade vehicle(s). Require employees to stay clear

of vehicle when boom is elevated near energized parts.

Wrapping It UpWrapping It Up

Education and training without follow-up and enforcement, is

INEFFECTIVE