OSHA issued citations alleging two willful safety violations to Harlan Electric Co., Detroit, Mich., with proposed penalties totaling $140,000.
According to OSHA, a safety inspection was initiated at a Harlan Electric Co. job site in Columbus, Ohio, on June 29, after an accident.
An employee died from injuries which resulted from an electrical arc blast during the installation of a ground wire on a pole, according to Deborah Zubaty, OSHA''s area director in Columbus.
The conductor was energized with 7,620 volts phase to ground 13,200 volts phase to phase.
The alleged willful violations include failure to train employees on procedures and hazards related to working within two feet of energized power lines, failure to maintain safe approach distance to energized lines, and failure to insulate or guard energized parts.
Harlan Electric has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest them.
by Virginia Sutcliffe