Summer Job Takes Life Of Student

A student working on a summer job was electrocuted when a truck-mounted crane he was operating struck a power line.

The driver of the truck instructed the student to move the crane, then backed the truck with the crane extended and the wire cable and hook hanging. They were working close to high tension wires and the cable contacted a wire containing 8,000 volts. The victim jumped from the truck to the ground. His hand contacted the rear bumper of the truck and he received a fatal jolt of electricity. It was just his fourth day on the job.

Safety training is a must for all workers, including students with summer jobs. They need to fully appreciate the dangers of any worksite. Only trained, qualified operators should run equipment like boom trucks. They must fully understand the dangers of high tension wires and the effects of extending the boom on load limits. Also, nobody should be allowed to ride on the outside of moving equipment.