Don't get zapped | Safe SolutionsPeter Greenbaum
During the five years Ray has worked for Standard Roofing, he
has gained considerable experience as a roof mechanic and undergone
numerous safety training classes. Standard Roofing's owner, Jack,
is committed to safe work practices and proud of his company's
safety record.
One morning, Ray and his crew were at work on a mall's roof. A
rented boom truck and an operator, whom Jack had hired, were
on-site to load materials to the roof.
Steve, Standard Roofing's foreman, noticed there was no
insulating blanket covering the nearby overhead power lines; the
electric utility company said it would install the blanket. He
wasn't prepared to assume the power lines were de-energized and was
reluctant to allow the operator to begin loading. The operator,
however, explained that with the assistance of a Standard Roofing
worker, he could keep the boom a safe distance from the power
lines. Steve was convinced and chose Ray to watch the boom and warn
the operator if it got close to the power lines. Standing on the
ground, the operator controlled the boom using rubber-coated hand
controls mounted on the truck's side. He and Ray made sure they had
a clear line of sight of each other.
Work progressed through the morning, and it soon was time for
lunch. As the operator eased the boom away from the roof, he
miscalculated, and the boom contacted a power line that had 7,200
volts (7.2 kV)...
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