On November 3, 2004, a 44 year-old Hispanic laborer (the victim) was fatally injured after being electrocuted through indirect contact with a 7,200 volt overhead power line. A boom truck with an auger attached (Photo 1) was turning a utility pole anchor in an anchor-setting process in preparation for a utility pole replacement. During the process, the anchor began to wobble and the extended boom contacted the overhead power line. Apparently unaware that the boom was in contact with the overhead power line, the victim grabbed the energized anchor with both hands in an attempt to stabilize it and remained in contact with the energized anchor until the boom was moved away from the power line. Electrical current moved through the victim's body from his hands to ground through his feet. The boom truck operator immediately called 911 on his cell phone and emergency medical services (EMS) arrived in about 4 minutes. CPR was immediately initiated and the victim was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Hispanic Laborer Electrocuted After Boom Truck Contacts Overhead Power Line in North Carolina
2005
10 pages
Report
No indication
English
Public Health & Industrial Medicine , Industrial Safety Engineering , Job Environment , Occupational safety and health , Laborers , Fatalities , Electrocution , North Carolina , Accident investigations , Electrocuted , Power transmission lines , Overhead transmission , Electric utility industry , Poles (Supports) , Fatality investigation , Fatality Assessment and control Evaluation (FACE) , Boom truck , Utility poles