Colvin Electrocution death preventable- Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer Indianapolis

Friday, November 27, 2009 by John Daly
The  death of an  Ohio truck  driver at a Carthage Indiana Construction site  was avoidable. 48 year old Gary Colvin of Eaton Ohio was killed Wednesday while exiting his truck. Apparently  he was helping with demolition of an old paper mill when his truck contacted power lines.  These types  of accidents are  avoidable if the contractor will simply follow OSHA regulations   on demolition and  electrical  safety.  Here are  some  of them :

Electrical Safety
Electrical hazards can cause burns, shocks and electrocution (death).

Safety Tips
  • Assume that all overhead wires are energized at lethal voltages. Never assume that a wire is safe to touch even if it is down or appears to be insulated.
  • Never touch a fallen overhead power line. Call the electric utility company to report fallen electrical lines.
  • Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from overhead wires during cleanup and other activities. If working at heights or handling long objects, survey the area before starting work for the presence of overhead wires.
  • If an overhead wire falls across your vehicle while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not leave your vehicle. Warn people not to touch the vehicle or the wire. Call or ask someone to call the local electric utility company and emergency services.
  • Never operate electrical equipment while you are standing in water.
  • Never repair electrical cords or equipment unless qualified and authorized.
  • Have a qualified electrician inspect electrical equipment that has gotten wet before energizing it.
  • If working in damp locations, inspect electric cords and equipment to ensure that they are in good condition and free of defects, and use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
  • Always use caution when working near electricity.

The contractor should ensure  that no equipment comes  within 10 feet of a power line, or the line should be de-energized.  Demolition work  has  its own safety regulations, and electricity is a major hazard.

Our hearts  go out to the family of Mr. Colvin,  what a sad way to spend a holiday.


Give your loved ones a hug, life  is short and precious.

John


Comments for Colvin Electrocution death preventable- Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer Indianapolis

Monday, November 30, 2009 by Greg Smith:
Mr. Daly is correct about the many existing electrical hazards. What often gets overlooked are the unseen hazards from non-certified equipment in the workplace. Every week, our team travels to workplaces to evaluate non-certified equipment (Certified is equipment listed or labeled by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL, MET. ETL, TUV, etc). Often workplace facility owners get stuck with this equipment from unscrupulous or ignorant distributors, leaving them to deal with deaths and injuries afterwards. Much information is available at the IAEI site (International Association of Electrical Inspectors). I am only one of the writers, but there are many more. Here are some of the latest: http://www.iaei.org/magazine/?p=642 http://www.iaei.org/magazine/?p=4561 http://www.iaei.org/magazine/?p=4518 Any questions or comments my contact information is in the IAEI Bio. Thanks again Mr. Daly for helping to publicize information about electrical hazards.

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