CHANDLER-WILBERT VAULT CO

ELECTRIC SHOCK - CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD LINE THRU CRANE BOOM

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE ASSIGNED THE DUTIES OF DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION OF PREFABRIC ATED STEPS AT THE REAR ENTRY OF A RESIDENCE. THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF OVERHEAD PO WER LINES WERE IN THE AREA WHERE THE STEPS WERE TO BE PLACED. THE TRUCK CRANE CO ULD NOT REACH THE POSITION WHERE THE STEPS WERE TO BE PLACED. THE OPERATOR LET T HE STEPS DOWN, AND THE HELPER UNHOOKED THE CABLE FROM THE STEPS. WHEN THE OPERAT OR, USING HAND CONTROLS AND STANDING ON THE GROUND, WENT TO SWING THE BOOM AROUN D TO PICK UP THE STEPS AT ANOTHER ANGLE, THE CABLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH AN 8000- VOLT OVERHEAD POWER LINE. THE OPERATOR WAS KNOCKED UNCONCIOUS, AND MOUTH-TO-MOUT H RESUSITATION WAS USED TO REVIVE HIM. HE RECEIVED BURNS ON THE FINGERS OF HIS R IGHT HAND AND ON HIS LEFT FOOT. HUMIDITY WAS HIGH (62%), AND THE GROUND MOIST FR OM OVERNIGHT DRIZZLE. THE OPERATOR HAD ATTEMPTED TO POSITION THE BOOM IN BETWEEN THE SETS OF POWER LINES, WHICH WERE ONLY 9 FEET APART.