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View Full Version : Update On Substation Fatality @ Mid American Energy Worker Killed Was Apprentice



weevy
08-28-2008, 09:39 PM
Well it has been a little over a week now since this incident happened, and after all the rumors have quelled, this is what it looks like might have happened. The original outage was caused by a squirrel that caused one or two feeders to be de-energized. Some of the customers that were affected by the outage were then picked up by another substation. So most of the customers were able to have their power restored after being switched out.

The individual that was killed was a jouneyman lineman, but was a Substation Technician Apprentice.

These are the events that led to his death! After the squirrel caused the outage and work was started after it was determined the damage the squirrel caused, the work would require them to climb onto the metal clad where the breakers are and work in an elevated position. To my understanding their were two or three workers up on the top of the metal clad doing the work. Only part of the Substation was de-energized and everyone working at the sub was aware that part of the sub was still energized. After the work was complete 2 of the workers climbed down the ladder. The only one left on the beam was the apprentice, someone on the ground that was working opposite of these guys yelled out and said they needed some help where they were, so the apprentice continued walking on the beam to his co worker when his foot hit a insulator that had a crack in it. After his foot touched the insulator, it caused his foot to become energized and arched across his foot, the apparatus he touched was energized, after the initial shot, the fault current caused him to be thrown backwards across the 13,000 buss. His body laid across all three phases to The feeder tripped and then the re-closure one shot energized again and then locked out. That is what we know as of today. The person who was holding the ladder for the apprentice was burnt due to the fire and arching.

After this I am reading tonite about another apprentice working for Mountain Power who was killed. They were a subcontractor for Rockey Mountain Power who is owned by Mid American Energy.

old lineman
08-29-2008, 10:14 AM
There is no mention (perhaps unknown yet) that the work crew ever took the time to cordon off the work area from the still energizd area.
Once your up on the structure it's difficult to keep track of where you are.
The installation of "caution tape" in the appropriate places can and has saved many lives.
It only takes a few minutes but is a life saver.
Nobody is that much of a hurry. Pretty basic stuff but that's often why it's neglected.
Everbody bitches and moans when we mention a new rule but unless the employer makes this a rule and provides the tape it won't happen and we'll just sit here waiting for it to happen again.
The Old Lineman