14.09.2007

OSHA investigates crane electrocution

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is looking into Wednesday's accident at a work site in Hermon, NY, USA that left one construction worker dead and a second injured.

Twenty-four year old year old Angel Vallespi of Portland and Robert McLeod of Harrington were electrocuted when the crane they were working near came into contact with overhead power lines. Vallespi died later at the hospital, but Mcleod is expected to make a full recovery.

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The crane's boom touched the overhead powerlines killing one and injuring another

OSHA is conducting a full investigation and police Wednesday said wind likely played a factor, but the question is how closely the crews were working to the power lines.

Working 10 feet from a power line is not only state law but a fundamental safety practice according to Central Maine Power.

Sergeant Mike Burgess of the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office says, "And from what I also understand speaking to a representative from CMP, they were never notified that this crane was going to be moving or this modular home was this close to powerlines because if they were notified they would have shut the power off ...as a precaution."

Coastlines Homes is the general contractor. It hired two different subcontractors to do the site work, J & S Carpentry and Irving Equipment Division. The two men who were shocked were working for J & S Carpentry, it says their employees" were doing exactly what they've been trained to do."

Scott Sinclair of Plymouth, MA was operating the crane, he works for Irving Equipment Division that issued the following statement: "This is a tragic situation and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the injured and the deceased. Our company was contracted by Coastline Homes of Ellsworth to provide a crane and an operator. We were not in charge of the job site. Irving Equipment believes we followed all of the appropriate regulations and safety guidelines regarding this job. We are continuing to cooperate fully with the OSHA investigation."