The Risk of Power Line Electrocutions for Workers

August 2, 2024

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules are intended to protect workers from dangers like power lines. Leaders of construction crews are supposed to follow those rules, but they often don’t, and their negligence leads to deadly accidents. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a workplace power line electrocution accident, a workplace injury lawyer can help you explore your options for compensation.

The High Risk of Power Line Electrocution

When OSHA investigates a power line-related electrocution, it usually finds that the accident occurred because of improper safety procedures. Training is required for workers in any occupation who work within 10 feet of power lines.

OSHA lists electrocution as one of the “Fatal Four” – the four most deadly types of accidents in the construction industry.

Workers can be at risk for power line electrocution in several ways. The use of heavy equipment is a leading cause of this type of injury. Types of heavy equipment that often place workers near dangerous power lines include:

Several other work vehicles can also bring the risk of power line electrocution. Cement mixers, dump trucks, and front-end loaders all have moving parts that must be raised, lowered, and adjusted. When used near a power line, a slight error during these operations can easily result in worker electrocution.

It’s important to note that while overhead power lines are a common reason for worker electrocution, they are not the only workplace risk. OSHA notes that buried power lines carry an extremely high voltage and frequently lead to worker death when contact occurs.

Have you or a loved one been electrocuted by power lines while working in Pennsylvania or New Jersey? Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to discuss how we can help with work injury compensation. 

Power Line Safety Regulations Protect Workers

People who work on power lines must have special training, and training is required for occupations that routinely work near power lines. Crane operators and tree trimmers are two types of workers who frequently work near power lines. However, depending on the location of a job site, construction workers, painters, and the operators of hoists and drill rigs are also frequently at risk of power line electrocution.

Crane Operator Safety

Crane operators and accompanying work teams have a variety of safety procedures they’re required to comply with. When a work team is operating a crane near overhead power lines, some of the safety regulations OSHA requires of the team include:

  • Certified crane operator
  • Qualified rigger and spotter
  • Two-way radio communication between spotter and crane operator
  • Voltage level obtained by the power company in advance
  • Safe minimum distance determined based on voltage
  • Flags posted to mark safety distance
  • Pre-job safety meeting
  • Non-conductive tagline
  • Trucks and equipment are not directly below the power line.

Violating even one of these regulations can easily result in worker injury or death.

Tree Service Safety

Arborists are another group of workers who frequently work close to power lines. A significant portion of tree service work involves cutting back branches that are near or touching overhead power lines. Tree trimmers may work near power lines only if they have learned about the potential dangers and proper work procedures for avoiding accidents, injuries, and death.

Only those workers with special training and a pre-job safety briefing are permitted to trim branches within 10 feet of power lines. OSHA also provides a long list of safety requirements for workers in the tree-trimming industry. Some of the many safety precautions tree services must take include:

  • Insulating material that is worn by workers
  • Non-conductive head protection
  • Protective equipment for eyes and face
  • Insulated tools and equipment
  • Non-conductive rope and hand lines
  • Warning signs and barricades to protect and alert workers.

When an employer fails to provide workers with appropriate equipment, hires untrained workers, or fails to follow safety guidelines, the result is often worker electrocution and death.

Consult Our Workplace Injury Lawyers Today

Thousands of workers are injured or killed by electrocution each year. Most of the time, these are avoidable tragedies that only occur because of someone’s negligence. If you’ve been injured or a loved one was killed as a result of a power line electrocution at work, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Wapner Newman can help you understand your options for obtaining injury compensation. Worker injuries may be compensated through workers’ compensation, a personal injury claim, or a product liability claim.

Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to schedule your free consultation with a Pennsylvania workplace injury attorney.

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