R.I.P. Timothy Beard

[reppy007]

Im seeing something that I dont like,something basic.....its called no use of grounds...lets get our acts together,really....how long does it take to get and install a ground,or grounds.

[lewy]

This is why we are not permitted to work on isolated lines. The line is either hot or it is grounded with a visible ground. If this young man thought the line was isolated & new he had to ground it before working on it, even if he did not test it he would have just had a bad flash. As far as rest time the onus should not be on him to ask for rest time, I would have been given the morning off with pay & no one would have expected anything less.

[Slag Kicker]

Timmy came to help us in Bartow in '04 after Hurricane Charley tore up our system. There were 8-10 guys that came from Ocala. They were all great guys. As soon as I saw his picture online I remembered him. I'm praying for his family and co-workers. This is going to be very tough to deal with. Such a senseless loss of a young man.

[reppy007]

Timmy came to help us in Bartow in '04 after Hurricane Charley tore up our system. There were 8-10 guys that came from Ocala. They were all great guys. As soon as I saw his picture online I remembered him. I'm praying for his family and co-workers. This is going to be very tough to deal with. Such a senseless loss of a young man.

Wow,Slag kicker.....I bet you froze when you seen his pic.......we sometimes pay a high price when making mistakes in this trade...Do you know if he was aware of this site....there was a thread that mentioned a younger guy..... one who would read these stories.....it dealt with who would be next......the story was meant to make guys think........about the next.....which would happen to be the younger guy that was reading the story......he never knew,that he would be the next one....it can and does happen....guys just cant see themselves as being the next accident victim,but someone is always the next.

[reppy007]

For you guys that want to see his photo,just search yahoo....goodlooking kid,has that lineman look....lots of comments from people that knew him,friends,ect...maybe somebody can install the link.....I had a problem doing that.

[LostArt]

He graduated from Suwannee. Spoke to a teacher just yesterday and she had nothing but good things to say about this nice young man.

Here are some links we found yesterday. I knew the name sounded familar, but only the name. I never personally knew him. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family, friends, and co-workers.

http://publicpower.com/2012/veteran-lineman-for-the-city-of-ocala-electrocuted/

http://www.ocala.com/article/2012052...CLES/120529692

[reppy007]

Thanks LostArt......People really need to read about this lineman,it looks as if he had everything to live for,great future,lots of friends,a good family.....he was among the best in the rodeos......everything going his way,until that sad day.

[CPOPE]

http://www.ocala.com/article/2012071...9891?p=1&tc=pgPublished: Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 6:50 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 6:50 p.m.
Page 1 of 4

A review by two independent investigators into the electrocution death of an Ocala Utilities Services lineman who was replacing a transformer concluded the accident could have been prevented if any one of five steps had been taken.

Timothy Beard, 31, died May 25. He had worked for Ocala Utilities for 13 years.

The report is more than 170 pages long. It says the accident could have been avoided if:

-- The lineman had been wearing rubber gloves. He was wearing leather gloves.

-- The line had been tested for nominal voltage. Then the lineman would have known the line was actually still “energized.”

-- Grounds had been placed on the line. Then the line would have tripped out after it was re-energized, letting workers know the line had not been switched properly.

-- The OMS system had been used. Then the dispatcher would have seen the line was still energized and could have informed the lineman of the mistake.

-- The lineman not touched the two different potentials on the top and bottom of the disconnect.

The investigation was conducted by George Hayes and Gary McKenzie, who each have more than 30 years of experience in safety and training at utility companies in Orlando and Gainesville.

The report cited 18 contributing factors that led to Beard's death. They wrote: “The greatest contributing factor in this accident was Timmy did not have on rubber gloves that are required when working on lines and equipment that are not grounded. The rubber gloves were in their glove bag hanging in the bucket.”

[lewy]

“The greatest contributing factor in this accident was Timmy did not have on rubber gloves that are required when working on lines and equipment that are not grounded. The rubber gloves were in their glove bag hanging in the bucket.”


This should not be an option working on isolated lines with rubber gloves, either you work it hot or you ground it, if you can isolate it you can ground it. Any one who says they work an isolated line, but treats it as alive is lying.

[Knuckles]

Lets get something straight! When his co-workers thought he was breathing what was actually happening was the body trying to breath. Sucking sounds and the chest heaving is the body struggling to take a breath. Lack of thorough CPR training can do this. It is the trainers responsibility to make sure that his students understand this. Had they started CPR he would have had a better chance of survival. I do not fault the men that were there, lack of training and understanding of how the body works. Training people, training. I prey that god may assuage the anguish that must be theirs and he grant them peace. I would trust them to work with me anywhere!