Fatality Case Review

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Fatality Case Review

• Region IV - OSHA

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Tribute To A Lineman

• The call comes in late at nightWire down people
  out of lightsYou kiss your wife you dont feel
  like goingThe rains pouring and the wind is
  blowingLong hours and bad weather, we face it
  allThe jobs not easy, but it was our callWe
  wanted to be Lineman, and climb the tall poleTo
  keep the meters turning is our main goalIt takes
  pride, integrity and a whole lot of gutsTo do
  our job, though some think us nuts

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Tribute To A Lineman

• Lineman have a bond, a brotherhood you might
  sayIt comes from the hazards and danger they
  face everydayYou trust your pole buddy you know
  hell be thereTo give you a hand high in the
  airThe wire is big the voltage is highWith
  Gods grace, he wont let you dieWhen the work
  is all done, and day is throughWe go home to our
  families, proud of what we do
• Author William D. Jenkins

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Fatality 1

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

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Accident Scene

• Employee made contact with the hot and neutral
  secondary conductors

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Recommendations

• Hold job briefing prior to the start of work.
• Test poles before climbing.
• Wear rubber gloves when working on energized
  parts.

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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.

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Fatality 2

• A 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.

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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.

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Recommendations

• Protector gloves not worn over rubber gloves.
• Annual review of training.
• Certification of training.
• Maintain minimum approach distance.

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Fatality 3

• A 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.

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Recommendations

• Maintain proper clearances.
• Insulate or isolate employees from energized
  parts.
• Ground or barricade vehicles.

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Recommendations

• Flame retardant Clothing
• Inspect clothing regularly.
• Replace worn/damaged clothing.
• Follow manufacturers recommendations for
  laundering.

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Fatality 4

• An 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.

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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).

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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.

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Fatality 5

• The 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.

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Recommendations

• Conduct job briefing.
• Require employees wear the appropriate clothing.
• Ensure appropriate clothing is being worn.
• Maintain proper clearances.
• Ground or barricade vehicle(s).

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Fatality 6

• Employer 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.

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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.

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Wrapping It Up

• Education and training without follow-up and
  enforcement, is

INEFFECTIVE