Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/816045
EquipmentWorld.com | April 2017 67 safety watch | by Tom Jackson | TJackson@randallreilly.com M oving through a partially developed residential develop- ment, the owner of a construction company maneuvered his ex- cavator to pick up a concrete bucket. After securing the concrete bucket to the boom of the excavator with a chain, he proceeded to raise the boom to approximately 26 feet and maneuver it to another place on the jobsite. The owner's atten- tion was focused on the tracks of the exca- vator because he did not want to run over a recently poured concrete curb. But the boom of the excavator was so high it snagged a four-wire utility line carrying power, cable TV, telephone and a neutral wire. The tension on the wires caused by the moving excavator broke the utility pole 70 feet away, bring- ing all the wires crashing down. The top wire was a 7,200-volt, single-phase primary distribution line. The cable TV, telephone and neutral wires fell on the ex- cavator. The operator said he felt a tingle in his hands and let go of the controls to stop the machine. But the 7,200-volt distribution line was live and fell on the ground near a 20-year-old worker who was approaching the excavator from the rear. He was im- mediately electrocuted. Witnesses said the victim stag- gered away from the wire and fell face down about 20 feet from the energized line. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward. The owner told investigators he had maneuvered the machine through this area many times in the past, but only once since the lines had been installed. His company had seven employees and worked in excavation, carpentry, residential construction and landscaping. All the company's training was on-the- job, and there were no written safety procedures. Investigators also suspect that the roof on the excava- tor cab may have prevented the owner from seeing the low-hanging lines. How this accident could have been prevented • Before getting into the cab and maneuvering equip- ment, operators should visually inspect the route to look for hazards. • Employees should be trained to recognize the haz- ards associated with equipment, ladders or any type of operation around power lines. • Before maneuvering a piece of equipment near haz- ards or power lines a signal man or guide should be posted in front of the machine to warn operators of hazards or problems. • A hazard analysis should be conducted and results communicated to workers on every jobsite. • Every time a change is made on the site, a hazard analysis should be updated and those updates com- municated to the workers. • Supervisors should visually inspect sites every morning to look for changes that may impact safety. For more information go to: www.cdc.gove/niosh/face/In-house/full8532.html Date of safety talk: Leader: _____________________ Attending: Illustration by Don Lomax High wire hazard