Farm Workers Electrocuted when Irrigation Pipes Contact Powerlines

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Public Health Rep
• Journal Article:
  Public Health Reports
• Personal Author:
  Helgerson, Steven D. ; Milham, Samuel Jr.
• Description:
  The circumstances surrounding electrocutions among farm workers in Washington state were examined. Forty two farmers were electrocuted during the years 1950 through 1979. Of these, 23 were killed while working near irrigation pipes that came into contact with overhead electrical lines. Between 1970 and 1979 there were 15 irrigation pipe associated electrocutions among farmers and 15 among farm workers. Among persons less than 20 years of age, such electrocutions were more common than any other type of electrocution. Of the various ways in which such accidents can be avoided, education of the population at risk and changes in methods of irrigation are the most important. In many locations, new powerlines used for irrigation systems are being placed underground. Raising the overhead powerlines so that they are out of reach of the worker carrying the irrigation pipe is also a preventive measure, but an expensive one. Changing the length of hand carried irrigation pipes to 20 feet instead of the present 40 foot length would increase the amount of labor required, but reduce the risk. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accident Prevention Accidents Accidents, Occupational Agriculture Death Certificates Electric Injuries Electricity Epidemiologic Methods Occupational Health Research Article Safety Washington Water Supply

  More +
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Author; Electric-power-transmission-lines; Electrical-hazards; Agricultural-industry; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Safety-research; Electrical-shock; Electrical-burns
• Source:
  Public Health Rep 1985 May; 100(3):325-328
• ISSN:
  0033-3549
• Pubmed ID:
  3923542
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMCnull
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• 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:
  4 pdf pages
• Volume:
  100
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00204893
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1985
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Public Health Reports
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b576e9f712cd27bd42dc3261ebdaa7b9d0dcc403741042edbda47700edfe9028f6ec7b888fae66cfc1d7845058c4fc7492183a71f7b47e7b7c0c2524aa8c68a4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/66224/cdc_66224_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 867.28 KB ]