Case Description/Summary:
An employee was working in an uninsulated bucket truck installing new coax span cable between two utility poles in a residential community. The coax span cable was positioned below two power lines. The top line primary power line possessed 19,000 volts and the bottom secondary line possessed 120 volts. While using the bucket truck the employee encountered a tree. A second employee was entering the cab of the bucket truck when he heard a loud buzzing sound. The second employee looked out of the truck and saw the deceased laying inside the bucket located next to the primary power line.
Expert Analysis/Summary:
A human factors and safety analysis included a review of all relevant depositions and other discovery documents, reports, photographs, etc. SPA, inc. reviewed the discovery documents and relevant research materials, codes, and standards related to electrical safety in the workplace.
It was determined through the review of site measurements located in the discovery documents that the uninsulated bucket came within two feet of the primary 19,000-volt power line in violation of regulatory and national consensus standards.
Results: Case resolved in a favorable manner.
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