L&I Investigating Deaths of Two Workers

June 1, 2010
Washinton state’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is investigating the deaths of two men killed on the job May 26 in Auburn, Wash. They died after a boom truck they were operating apparently made contact with a live power line.

L&I inspectors arrived at the scene within a few hours of the incident and have begun an investigation. The employees worked for the propane distribution company, Ferrellgas in Auburn.

These are the 35th and 36th workplace deaths in Washington state so far this year, according to preliminary statistics. L&I investigates all work-related fatalities to determine the causes leading up to the incident.

There have been 22 electrocution fatalities involving workers who came near power lines between 1998 and 2010.

Information and resources about workplace safety are available at www.Lni.wa.gov/safety.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

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