Oh My!
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOL/bulletins/37d913d
Got an email about this. Sad!
Questions. #1 If this incident was in a backyard why is OSHA involved?
#2 I thought fiber-glass was non-conductive?
I told people for years to use fiberglass stepladders!
Prayers to all involved!
Comments (3)
Where I live, it seems more and more people are having their holiday lights professionally installed. That being said, if it was a business hanging the lights, and they had a fatality at this home, OSHA would need to be called within 8 hours. All employers under OSHA jurisdiction must report these incidents (work-related hospitalization, amputation, loss of an eye, or fatality) to OSHA, even employers who are exempt from routinely keeping OSHA records due to company size or industry.
To your second question, fiberglass is non-conductive, but if the pole was compromised in any way, that could explain why this happen when it touched the power line. Just a guess.
Sad story.
As Robin said, it may have been professional installers (we have a few customers that are doing this) or could have been a tree in the backyard of the facility he worked at. It said he was "on the job", so it doesn't sound like it was his personal house.
As far as the fiberglass, yes, it's insulated, but it could've been wet, dirty, or cracked. For example, the fiberglass shepherds hooks that electricians use have to be periodically tested to ensure they pass dielectric testing and inspections. If any "insulated" item (e.g., fiberglass ladder) is dirty, wet, or damaged, it can still conduct electricity and shock or electrocute you.
Hate to see this. So sad!