Construction Fatality Narrative: Father and Son Painters Electrocuted When Ladder Contacts Power Line

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  A 55-year-old painting and carpentry contractor and his 27-year-old son were both electrocuted when the aluminum extension ladder that they were moving contacted an overhead power line. For the past month, the contractor and his son along with three other members of their painting crew had been painting the exterior of a two-story church that had a 60-foot steeple. It was a windy day. The wind was blowing at 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. They had finished painting for the day and were cleaning up the site. The contractor and his son were moving the aluminum extension ladder that was at its full extension of 48 feet. The contractor and his son held the ladder in the vertical position as his son attempted to retract the ladder's extension. A gust of wind blew the ladder onto a 14,460-volt overhead power line. Electrical current traveled from the power line through the conductive aluminum ladder. Both were electrocuted. The contractor died at the scene and his son died nearly a month later. Investigators found: 1) Measures were not in place to protect against the ladder contacting the energized power line. 2) No account was taken of windy conditions when handling the ladder. 3) The distance from the power line to the face of the building was 10 feet 8 inches. REQUIREMENTS: If work is to be performed near overhead lines, the employer must deenergize and ground the lines, or they must provide other protective measures before work is started. If the lines are to be deenergized, the employer must make arrangements with the person or organization that operates or controls the electric circuits involved to deenergize and ground them. If using protective measures, such as guarding, isolating, or insulating, these precautions must prevent employees from contacting such lines directly with any part of their body or indirectly through conductive materials, tools, or equipment. Employers must use ladders with nonconductive side rails where the ladder could contact uninsulated, energized electric lines or equipment. RECOMMENDATIONS FACE investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences: Identify the location of overhead power lines as part of all initial worksite surveys for jobs involving the use of ladders. Note power line heights and distances from work areas on site diagrams and provide information to site supervisors and workers. Perform a job hazard analysis of the worksite. Use non-conductive ladders around power lines. Lower the extension ladder and transport it horizontally. Be aware of windy conditions while moving a ladder near power lines. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Electric Injuries Electricity Environmental Exposure Mortality Occupational Health Paint Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Staff Development Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Construction Electrical Power Transmission Lines Electrical Shock Electrocutions Exposure Levels Fatalities Hazards Ladders Painting Protective Measures Risk Factors Safety Education Safety Measures Safety Practices Training Work Environment Workers Worker Safety

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• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Lay Publication
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063634
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 71-210-2021, 2021 Sep; :1
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Construction fatality narrative: father and son painters electrocuted when ladder contacts power line
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8e0518ddb597be15d1fa163b5e3dea9d334f9916755ff70732bbac7532ada3c97940d3120f98bd67eaa104547759635b563d2e376c9eb6b2e609f545f0a02754
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/229109/cdc_229109_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 269.53 KB ]