Incident Investigation: Worker on Scissor Lift Electrocuted | WorkSafeBC

This video recreates an incident where a young worker performing service checks on a scissor lift got too close to an overhead power line and was electrocuted.
Overhead power lines and elevating equipment can be a dangerous mix if you’re not properly trained to operate a scissor lift safely.
In this incident investigation slide show, we learn that you don't even have to touch a power line to get electrocuted. Similar to lightning, electricity can jump across an air gap (flashover) and cause serious injury or death.
This educational video is a helpful training tool for workers who operate scissors lifts and boom lifts. It’s important to educate workers about the hazards, and to implement appropriate risk controls.
Learn more about working safely around electricity at www.worksafebc.com/electricity.
Timestamps:
0:00 What is an electricity flashover?
0:17 Scissor lift service checks
0:37 Operating underneath high-voltage power lines
0:57 Witnessing the incident
1:34 Cause & analysis
__________________________________________________________
We’re working to make a difference in workplace health and safety in British Columbia, Canada. By partnering with workers and employers, we help British Columbians come home from work safe every day.
Subscribe to our channel: kzbin.info...
Find us on social media:
Twitter: / worksafebc
Instagram: / worksafebc
Facebook: / worksafebc
LinkedIn: / worksafebc
Visit our website for the most up-to-date health and safety information and regulatory requirements: www.worksafebc.com
Legal terms:
All videos posted by the Workers’ Compensation Board (“WorkSafeBC”) are protected by Canadian and international copyright laws, policies, and treaties. The use of WorkSafeBC videos and other materials is governed by WorkSafeBC’s copyright and trademark statement, available here: www.worksafebc.com/en/legal/c.... Videos cannot be uploaded to other channels without prior permission. If you wish to request permission for use of our videos, please contact us: copyright [at] worksafebc.com

[@worksafebc]

Learn more about working safely around electricity: www.worksafebc.com/electricity

[@markc3197]

And don’t use your tape measure to check if your ten feet

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Lol

[@yooogooo4497]

@IAMTOPWRENCH1 metal or not it could potentially jump as well

[@marischwab3597]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chrisstern268]

Holy shit hahaha. That's unfortunately necessary to actually mention cause someones gunna do that shit

[@geot4647]

0:52 I don't think most people understand that just getting relatively close is a problem.

[@neapolis6919]

This is terrible. I work for an equipment rental company and we have a safety huddle every morning. Sometimes I think it's stupid because of the things they come up with. But they are right, We all need to be reminded of the situations we can encounter on the yard while checking a unit out and are not any different on the job site, Just different circumstances to deal with. Do a 360 degree evaluation up and down before beginning any type of work. At least that's the way we do it. Be Safe!

[@markhenry6622]

yard needed to delineate where lifts were not allowed. perhaps with a substantial speed bump. I'm gonna guess it's there now.

[@prestonhanson501]

Well they do it because somebody has done it at one point

[@cellogirl11rw55]

One time, when my family and I were helping a friend move, we accidentally hit the overhead service line to her apartment. The line grounded itself through the moving truck, and so, we had to wait in the cab for the energy company to de-energize the line and lift it off the truck so we could leave. We were very lucky that was just a low-voltage service line. Bottom line, before you start working, always identify where your utilities are, whether in the ground or above you. It just might save your life.

[@technomage6736]

My uncle died when a truck caught overhead lines which fell on him.

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

Someone was smart enough to know you STAY in the cab??

[@seanmckay3392]

by low voltage you mean 120v AC instead of 240v AC yeah still enough to stop your heart

[@MRMILO57]

Great video it teaches people at how dangerous electricity is.

[@mikedisanto8399]

You would think a lift rental place located under power lines would have taken precautions against lifting in that area?

[@darkmachine165]

You are giving to much intellectual credit to society.

[@kennethsouthard6042]

You would think that they would have a red zone painted on the ground prohibiting the raising of lifts or anything else that could get in danger range of the lines. In addition signs everywhere in that area as well.

[@artemiserectus]

They put up a couple signs afterwards. Lesson learned.

[@Sc0pee]

@@artemiserectus They already had signs in place though. I don't think adding some more signs will cut it, if there is such lacking guidance for the new workers.

[@fr89k]

My father worked in the railway industry and in that year when they distributed flyers in schools teaching them about the dangers of train voltage lines, significantly more teenagers climbed onto parked trains (and sometimes died)...

[@forceawakens4449]

Everytime someone idiot proofs something, the universe creates better idiots.

[@thegeneticmachine270]

The young lady caused the accident. He threw up his hand to say “Sup, babe?” and got lit up.

[@deniboy1570]

I am working with scissor lifts and articulating booms and one of the main rule what we learn at the start of of the job, is to always check your surroundings. For example, our rental yards have no power cable or any cable going through above

[@choxxxieful]

As a retired electrician, I wholly and emphatically agree!!!

[@rajarshirayphotography6964]

Agree to what?!

[@soheil5710]

@@rajarshirayphotography6964 I also agree with your statement!!

[@mikefuentes2657]

I’ve made a living from a scissor lift. They are dangerous and should be respected at any skill level. I won’t even drive under a power line let alone raise my lift near one. this person was not thinking.

[@goaheadmakeourdayscooterpe9644]

Retired lineman 33 years and saw the after math of numerous accidents like these, a well driller putting his rig into a 7.6 -13.2 kv line killing him, company building fire trucks, operator put boom into 69kv transmission line killed instantly and numerous other burned severely or killed under estimating those overhead lines.

[@abc-wv4in]

A lot of people don't understand that electricity can arc through the air. You don't always have to touch a line to be electrocuted. Btw, he was fatally injured, not just seriously injured. Very tragic accident that should not have happened.

[@DaveSuperDaveLyon]

"While job shadowing of more senior workers is essential, don't rely on that alone for training" Yeah, maybe don't rely on it alone, but you damn sure better pay attention!

[@scarakus]

Good animation, I thought he got vaporized for a second, until i noticed the hand sticking up, lol!

[@pepsicola6951]

Dude dont laugh wtf

[@Syclone0044]

Wow, just awful. I almost felt sick when I saw his tennis shoe. What a tragic waste of life! Everybody thinks it won't happen to them until one day it does!!! My heart goes out to all who knew him. I can't imagine how crushing the feelings must be, of wishing you could go back and undo this, but knowing full well that you can't.

[@archiepoo6876]

so true what if he had kids and a wife it would be so horrible

[@EphemeralProductions]

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

Not a tennis shoe. It was a work boot.

[@ElTurbinado]

go find the video of the 4 guys pushing scaffolding around and bumping a line.

[@81eagle]

I have seen that. It sucks.

[@BobABooey.]

"The worker, seriously injured, did not survive." I guess being killed is being seriously injured.

[@NandaRoxNUShould2]

Great catch there! That's like being killed to death!

[@asj3419]

he might have died in hospital

[@user-gp1xk8rd1d]

might've been alive nearly dead tho. cause of death might be his skin burnt so badly that respiration failed, and suffocated. apparently, this happens when a person falls into molten metal/lava, it doesn't instantly kill you i heard.

[@brandonhackbarth6213]

Sod Alfredsod yeah. He was seriously injured. Bad enough he didnt survive. He must not have died instantly.

[@Sodiumreactor]

I think mortally injured would be the correct term.

[@SpiritBear12]

He wasn't seriously injured, he was fatally injured.

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

During the big freeze up in 2007?? in North Vancouver the power lines stretched. Four weeks later they started dropping onto the lawns and sidewalks right around Lion Gate Hospital, burning their way right into the ground. It was the first time a BMW driver paid attention when I told her she WASN'T going to go to her car. I stepped out and controlled traffic until the response team could get to the LIVE downed lines. I had photos those lines burning into the lawns, in front of the apts!!!

[@keithpurduecroft]

Rule #1: do not become a resistor or a ground.

[@WRX7182]

what about power utility companies that work right beside live lines? I saw one time they were working with live lines and didn’t actually see what started the event, but there was an enormous flash and the heat and light was incredible. Guy in the basket was ok but wow what a scare for me who doesn’t work around electric lines like that. the power of electricity is no joke.

[@WhiteDevil-du8ne]

We cut trees and we don't work around power lines. I know a climber that got electrocuted when he leaned back into a line when he was up in a tree. The current went through his body and blew a hole through his boot. He was completely incapacitated and a rescue had to be performed to lower him to the ground. He ended up living, but he has permanent injuries. He still does tree work, but rarely gets in a tree now.

[@LVL1Yo-YoGuy]

they should make voltage sensors on lifts if it gets within couple feet it disables the lift.

[@unicodefox]

+Rudy c It'd make more sence to re-enable and go down.

[@LK-pc4sq]

+Rudy c That is not a bad idea.

[@JeaneGenie]

Far easier to get into the habit of looking up first

[@lucidtickle8347]

Or at least an Alarm or something lol

[@omoyomoyo6986]

great idea !

[@bgt63]

Situational awareness is the first and last protection

[@randydavis5350]

" The worker- seriously injured" could have and should have been easily avoided. Yet another tragedy.

[@tonyneville476]

Prayers to family 🙏🏻

[@michaelcostello6991]

Good warning. This reports help people to understand the danger

[@theresalacey6126]

RIP young man

[@JoeOmmen-df4uy]

My son wants to do scissor lift safety training after watching this uh uh no way am I letting my son on that death trap he'll take up a more safe job

[@ryanm7263]

When you think about it, it's really kinda crazy how we have thousands and thousands of volts hanging all over the place, everywhere we go.

[@johnbell3621]

Maybe if everyone just stopped using them.

[@euneadventure3112]

in reality,they should go underground,not above our heads...

[@phyllisreese6476]

Real Scary

[@AA-ke5cu]

@@euneadventure3112 then all the worms would die and you wouldn't have bait for fish. Would exterminate termites; that's a plus.

[@richsmith8035]

I remember seeing a video in my EMT class of a fire dept captain (i beleive was a captain) making contact with overhead wires, while in a snorkel basket. He survived, but it was pretty bad. lost some body parts. This guy was just careless, not paying attention.

[@AR-uw9fw]

So after someone gets killed they decide to put up signs of warning of the power lines

[@have2eat]

"The worker began to raise his right arm, in what appeared to be a defensive manner". Uhh...

[@ASharp]

We need to give our power line repairmen more respect, cuz this is just cold..

[@JesusChristIsLord__]

Electrocution is a portmanteau of Electric and Execution. Hence, the term Electro-cution means execution (or death) by electricity. The man did not die as a direct result of electrocution... something to keep in mind WorkSafeBC.

[@markkulyas2418]

10 feet hell no, stay 30 feet away just for good measure.

[@hanwentian5079]

Yes. It's like "you are technically okay if you are just 10 feet away but I am not sure if you have the gut to walk on the edge of death"

[@JungleYT]

There was a news reporter out here in Los Angeles - Adrienne Alpert who was seriously injured when her news van raised the antenna ( incompetent technician ) and touched an overhead power line in 2000.

[@andread8251]

She wasn’t injured until she opened the door to exit the van and her foot touched the ground.

[@ErichH68]

Reading is fundamental as in read the warnings on the lift!

[@Sparkette]

If I hadn't seen this, I'd have assumed I'm safe around power lines as long as I can ensure I don't touch them. But that wouldn't have been a big deal, because I'm not a construction worker.

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

BC is HUGE on safety especially around the lower mainland and Vancouver. I can't imagine the concept of safety in "freedom fry" areas like Alberta, Texas, and Florida.

[@giogio4833]

Never mind ten feet...just don't go anywhere near them

[@jerryseinfield]

The worker was very seriously killed .

[@rexluminus9867]

Very important video !! Thank you savings lives.

[@davidabbotts5056]

They are good at seriously understating the situation.

[@Cypher791]

I definitely would have thought that within the first 5 minutes of your first day working here somebody would have said.... “So obviously don’t be lifting under them power lines!” ☝️😌

[@AA-ke5cu]

They said young worker. Teenagers brains don't fully develop untill age 25.

[@roblow8042]

Thank you Joe Pera

[@hannecatton2179]

Not a problem here in Denmark as most power lines are buried. Expensive to do but pays off after time due to savings on lack of weather related power outages , accidents and the attendant costs involved in those two scenarios.

[@BenHutchinson321]

Two big flaws. When his cab got too high, instead of just switching off the lever for vertical movement, he pannicked and defensively put his hand up. That was a fatal mistake. Also, if you ever need to use any kind of lift device or crane under power lines, never deploy the ground straps. Those are only needed when fueling the vehicle to drain static electricity (a static spark can light gasoline). If this lift truck had been ungrounded, the current from the power lines would have no reason to travel through him to reach ground, because there would be no ground to reach. The rubber tires would have insulated the vehicle.

[@minuteman2012]

great place to put a rental yard!

[@incrediblec872]

😂😂😂😂💯💯🙆🏽‍♂️

[@rts100x5]

learned - DEATH is a serious injury

[@mattlechner8442]

also, it pays to get the right facts and not just "assume" if you're confronting a risk with technical/engineering aspects. Utility companies are generally willing to give technical/informational type help when asked. We can't all know everything. Sometimes is really pays to ask someone who really knows.

[@thelabvlogs6892]

As an Electrical student ., I must agree 👍

[@Forwardoperationbase]

great video. thank you.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

And of course, the "Woodpecker has a bad day" vid is in my suggested videos. This algorithm has a sick sense of humor.

[@lucyinthesky4682]

Why would you ever lift your hand up near a power line? I'm GenX and we were stupid and did dangerous crap but one of thr very first things I learned was stay away from power lines.

[@LawFarin]

They should of had flags on those lines to begin with, having equipment that could potentially come in contact with those lines. No one took a few minutes to do a risk assessment. What a shame

[@VITATTA]

WHY DID THE EMPLOYER EVEN ALLOW EQUIPMENT INTO THAT AREA?? HOW ABOUT A GUARDRAIL TO LIMIT ACCESS?? POOR TRAINING>>> POOR SUPERVISION>>>NO SAFEGUARDS>>>POWER COMPANY ALLOWING HIGH REACH EQUIPMENT ON THEIR EASEMENT.

[@rextruegood6168]

SHOCKING!

[@lewisk2418]

Why did he put his hand up

[@charlessmith263]

These BC-recommended distances from high voltage lines are there for a reason! You do not follow these rules - you get electrocuted or die! Also - there is the static electricity theory involving flashover and being too close to the lines. Next time on a very dry, winter day, touch your fingertip to any metallic object. The voltage from any static electricity shock in this case has much lower amperage than that of the power lines with high voltage, so getting even close to, say, a metallic doorknob - say, 1/16 of an inch without touching it, and the flashover results - you see a spark and then you get the jolt from it - which is the shock. So a good rule of thumb is to stay away from at least 1/8 inch from all metallic objects whenever RH is extremely low and it is very cold, which will create perfect conditions for static electricity shocks - until you can find a way to discharge them safely. So use these static electricity shocks to send you a warning of a shocking electrocution that will happen if you disobey minimum clearances from high voltage lines.

[@terrylunsford352]

The metal ground straps on the bottom are for discharging static electricity picked up by the tires when in motion. Unfortunately they were the cause of death in this case.If those ground straps had not been there this guy would in all likely hood still be alive.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Yeah the ground on the lift was essentially the negative pole...the wire dangling was the positive pole....the poor man essentially became a human dielectric capacitor with a lot of conductive ions to store the energy of the 2 poles...it was a tesla coil set up waiting to zap

[@srm323srm]

The straps are rubber, just like the tires.

[@solarfluxman8810]

As the video explained, high voltages such as these, can jump a fairly large air gap. The wheel rims and the lift frame are just inches away from ground, so it could easily jump that small gap, and much farther.

[@billtaylor4224]

Really? When did rubber start to be a path way for electricity, Never. They are metal.

[@antonystringfellow5152]

srm323srm Rubber straps? For what purpose exactly? I mean, what possible purpose could they serve if they were made of rubber (like the tyres)? Are you American by any chance? I've noticed Americans like to talk a lot - make pronouncements about things they know absolutely nothing about. A bit like the president there.

[@freakyflow]

Hate to be the next guy to have to clean that machine ...

[@Brind-amour]

RIP young man.

[@skymarshallmarz5573]

with no shoes, he still got service.

[@veelalynne]

1:09 I thought it blew him up.

[@ArkadyVasiliev]

This is the first thing covered when I did my IPAF,

[@davidca96]

Cheers eh, thanks for the warning eh.

[@jonwillard4659]

People don't know, that voltage will find a way to ground. It came thru a t40 and blew the tire out where I worked

[@carlosanaya4149]

Not something you want to mess with.

[@codycarlson199]

Saying someone was electrocuted automatically means they died from the incident. A result in injury would be an electric shock injury, not electrocution. Something to look for in the future.

[@HarryBalzak]

What? No.

[@bogg4n]

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute. You are welcome.

[@vanceogden2482]

+Harry Balzak i have had this discussion w many non electricians. Electrocution.. execution.. notice similarities? Electrocution = death via electric shock. I know.. how many no electricians say "i got electrocuted". my response is "really? how are you still talking to me? am I talking to my first ghost?"

[@HarryBalzak]

Vance Ogden Being a carpenter I know several electricians very well. One I have known since high school. All of them, and my carpenter associates, say "i got electrocuted", or "I got shocked" interchangeably. Colloquially they mean the same thing and many dictionaries have '*injury or* death from electric shock' as the definition.

[@vanceogden2482]

+Harry Balzak i dont care how many "electricians you know" as a carpenter. They aren"t knowledgable electricians if they say "i got electrocuted". Again. IBEW electrician 《《《 28 years. I probably said same thing before I got in the trade. I stopped sometime as a first year greenhorn.

[@berndp3426]

Ground insulated equipment is an option. in most cases lifesaving. Ground potential up there on a platform is the cause for such tragedies. and dry weather. Never do powerline maintenance in rain, snow, storm or otherwise damp / wet / humid / unsettled weather of course.

[@dinosaurcomplaints2359]

Giving is better than recieving!

[@gurnblanstein9816]

Warning signs were put up after the guy died lol

[@Nicurru]

And he turned into Flash Gordon. The end.

[@simov8chevy]

Who the hell in their right mind would open a yard, where YOUR engineering staff have to max out YOUR mewps as part of their job, so close to power lines. The fact that somebody can contact a power line with a 26' scissor beggars belief!!!!!

[@dazens1]

i agree- there were lines all over the damned place with those machines working to height- if i'd have been a relative of the guy killed i'd have sued the hell out of everyone for negligence

[@EcoOnlineSuomi]

The whole lift rental should be located elsewhere, where there is now powerlines overhead! The warning signs won't help and there is a great likelyhood for this to happen again!

[@nancehaas565]

wondering if I can get a copy of this video to use in an ehap course,,,, Thanks

[@worksafebc]

We provide downloadable copies of our videos for educational, non-commercial use. To request permission, send details of your request to: copyright [at] worksafebc.com

[@AnxietyAdvertisement]

he was literally gone after that

[@dangeary2134]

I drive trucks AND operate heavy equipment. Before that, I was an electrician. I can tell you that noting mixes with electricity, especially high voltage!

[@BassManBobBassCovers]

Good video!

[@EphemeralProductions]

[@kirkmcgee1]

I think it was suicide since the line did not attack him and thus no need for him to "defend" himself.

[@coenwatt9458]

When working with powerlines you must always treat them as if they have no insulation, it the same principal and when you are handling a gun, treat every gun as if it is loaded

[@marcs3982]

Nothing like being Reactive, instead of Proactive!

[@chrisstanley81]

Where the fuck was his foreman. ? I would have never allow any of my guys to make such a reckless move, the higher the voltage, the higher probability it can flash over.

[@aquimanhero6751]

What was he doing up there?

[@berkanstanislav5999]

Holy shit im studying electricity im fucking scared now :P

[@lliambunter]

What the fuck is the depot doing there when you have aerial platforms?

[@meowingmono]

maybe they bought that yard because it was cheaper

[@EATSLEEPDRIVE2002]

This is why they need to put warning labels on- - oh, wait. They did

[@marysmid7094]

looks like they're using his tragedy for an ad

[@ronjohnson303]

He got a charge out of that

[@charlessmith263]

Tell me what flashover is.

[@martinhennigar6365]

I am not normally one to comment on these types of things, however if you could try to put yourself in the place of the Mom, Dad, siblings and other loved ones before you start typing. Hopefully it would change the way some of the comments are written. How would you feel reading some of these if it was your son that was killed? With all due respect and sincere condolences to the family. Secondly, I notice over one million views. I think Worksafe BC has done a great job of public education here. Thank you.

[@TheRealKalEll]

Flash over ACTUALLY MEANS: traveling out through shortest path to the ground because of a greater or equal electro magnetic force

[@erich.marks0]

sad, but he didn't observe requirements on the lift.

[@theendofmytether398]

Power lifting company? Where was the training that teaches you to be aware of hazards, negligence

[@DucatiQueen]

Training !? Just show them this clip !

[@obiwanjabroni2267]

Painted a house the other weekend on a boom lift with the power lines touching the lift for a good ten minutes, then told the guy I was getting uncomfortable because I didn’t want to die and we repositioned.

[@dereksmith8177]

Sounds like you two shouldn't of been operating a boom lift to begin with.

[@phillipkalaveras1725]

The worker in this video as well as any kid who ever climbed an electrical tower or pole and got electrocuted had any intention of touching the line, they were simply never informed by anyone that electricity can jump through the air. If you already knew this.. have you ever shared it?

[@randallcarney1216]

Ever hear of lightning, that is electricity jumping through the air! The neutral ground wire runs below the primarys, if the boom was to close it would also jump to it .

[@emomommy8223]

Isnt the dude who voices the narrator the owner of some youtube channel that covers crimes and fatal accidents.???