Overhead Power Cable Incident
ACTIVITY:
MANUAL HANDLING AND STORAGE
TITLE
Overhead Power Cable Incident
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
WHAT HAPPENED
A mixer was discharging concrete into a concrete pump which came in proximity of a 11000 volt power cable. The electricity channelled through the concrete pump subsequently shocking the pump operator and the labourers working in the trench.
The labourer on the end of the concrete pump discharge pipe received the full power from the supply cable and was rendered unconscious. This labourer received burns to his lower legs which required grafts and his toenails were burnt which were treated in hospital where he stayed for over a week.
The concrete mixer operator felt a tingle of the electricity on the back of his hand and fortunately pulled away quickly to avoid injury.
The electricity had travelled through the pump and made contact with the truck-mixer via the concrete on the chute and the concrete in the pump hopper.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
Click image to enlarge
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
What should you expect to see on site to warn you of the overhead hazard?
- Always assess the delivery point.
- Always confirm the delivery point is safe.
- If its not safe to deliver STOP, DON’T put yourself and others at risk.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
Click image to enlarge
ACTIVITY:
MANUAL HANDLING AND STORAGE
Click image to enlarge
There may be occasions when work must be carried out beneath OHPLs, e.g. pipes may have to be laid. In this case, barriers and goalposts must be erected and additional safety measures put in place
Go Back to Search Critera