Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: CarpenterElectrocuted in Pennsylvania When Aluminum Edging Contacts Powerline, October 28, 1990

摘要

A 31 year old male carpenter was electrocuted when a 12 foot long strip ofaluminum drip edging he was installing contacted a 7200 volt powerline located behind and above him. He was working on replacing the roofing on a house at the time of the accident. The powerlines were located 6 feet from the house and 5 feet above the edge of the roof. He was working from an aluminum ladder jack scaffold when a segment of edging he was positioning contacted the line. He fell from the scaffolding to the ground. His employer was a general contractor with three employees who had been in the business for 9 years. The victim had worked for the employer for 4 months and had 10 years experience as a carpenter. It is recommended that employers should contact local utility companies and request that they insulate all powerlines in the proximity of a work area; that employers should consider replacing the conductive components of a work platform with non conductive material such as fiberglass; and that workers should wear fall protection equipment when working at elevations.