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Two tree trimmers die when they are electrocuted while pollinating date palm trees.

Public Health Institute

Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 16CA003, 2016 Dec; :1-9

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ca/16CA003.html

20050029

Two tree trimmers were electrocuted by an overhead high voltage electrical power line while pollinating date palm trees. Both victims were in the bucket of an aerial lift bucket truck when the incident occurred. The vehicle involved in the incident was parked under high voltage power lines and the bucket was raised up directly into the lines. One of the victims in the bucket made contact with the lines, causing a large arc and fire. The electric utility company was not notified of the work being performed in close proximity to its high voltage lines. There were no written safety procedures or an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) in place at the time of the incident. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future incidents, tree trimming companies and self-employed tree trimmers working in close proximity to high voltage power lines should: 1) Ensure that a daily job hazard analysis of the work area is conducted, including any electrical hazards from high voltage power lines. 2) Ensure there is a minimum of ten feet between the work area and high voltage power lines. 3) Ensure that workers are trained on safety policies and procedures on electrical hazards around high voltage power lines. 4) Ensure that the electric utility company is notified whenever tree trimmers will be working in close proximity to high voltage power lines. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: Occupational injuries and fatalities are often the result of one or more contributing factors or key events in a larger sequence of events that ultimately result in an injury or fatality. The CA/FACE team identified the following items as contributing factors in this incident that ultimately led to the fatality: 1) A daily hazard analysis was not performed. 2) Working in close proximity to high voltage electrical power lines. 3) No safety policies or procedures. 4) Electric utility company was not contacted prior to beginning work. RECOMMENDATIONS: To prevent future incidents, tree trimming companies and self-employed tree trimmers working in close proximity to high voltage electric lines should: a) Recommendation #1: Ensure that a daily job hazard analysis of the work area is conducted, including any electrical hazards from high voltage power lines. b) Recommendation #2: Ensure there is a minimum of ten feet between the aerial lift bucket and the high voltage power lines. c) Recommendation #3: Ensure that workers are trained on safety policies and procedures on electrical hazards around high voltage power lines. d) Recommendation #4: Employers should always inform the electric company whenever working in close proximity to their high voltage power lines.

Region-9; Mortality-data; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Power lines; Electrocutions; Tree trimmers; Safety monitoring; Safety practices; Protective measures; Hazard controls; Recommendations; Hazard recognition; Work environment; Environmental hazards; Job analysis; Work areas; Training; Electrical power transmission lines; Electrical hazards; Public utilities; Electrical industry; Height factors; Equipment operators; Fire hazards; Regulations

20161201

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

Cooperative Agreement

2017

PB2017-102695

FACE-16CA003; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-OH-008468

NAICS-56

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

CA; WV

Public Health Institute