Be careful out there

[chris kennedy]

From the Miami Herald:



A Florida Department of Transportation subcontractor was electrocuted Monday morning while working on a street light at Miramar Parkway and Interstate 75 in Miramar, authorities said.
Joshua Lee Sumner, 36, was attempting to lower a light fixture to change light bulbs about 9:30 a.m. when he was electrocuted by 480 volts of electricity, according Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Wysocky.
Another worker, 28-year-old Brenton Purcell, was electrically shocked when he tried to help Sumner.
The light fixture is on the Miramar Parkway eastbound exit ramp, said Miramar Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Bill Huff.
''Those tall street lights have very high voltage, certainly enough to kill someone,'' Huff said. ``Crews arrived and began working on him.''
Air rescue landed about 10 a.m. to take Sumner, of Margate, to the trauma unit at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Purcell, of West Palm Beach, was taken to Memorial Hospital Miramar with minor injuries and is expected to recover

 

[iwire]

That is sad, I think we can assume.

He did this many times before.

He never thought it would happen to him.

The work did not have to be done live.

 

[JohnJ0906]

My prayers go out to his family.

The work did not have to be done live.

Do street lights have a disconnecting means?

 

[peter d]

Do street lights have a disconnecting means?

I know that the metal pole mounted street lights have a breakaway connector in the handhole in case a car hits them.

 

[chris kennedy]

when he was electrocuted by 480 volts of electricity,
Another worker, 28-year-old Brenton Purcell, was electrically shocked when he tried to help Sumner.

A couple things really bother me about this tragic accident. First I would guess that this was a 277V to ground event. Second I'm wondering why his partner couldn't clear him.

As Bob stated there is no reason to do this work hot.

My heart goes out to Mr. Sumner's family.

 

[iwire]

My heart goes out to Mr. Sumner's family.

Mine as well.


And if my first post in this thread sounded cold hearted I appolgize for that.

 

[Q-Ball]

It?s sad to here of stories of other electricians that get hurt in our trade. It should serve as a reminder that what we do is dangerous and that we all should make sure we do our job with our safety in mind, our families count on us.
My regards go out to his family.

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

That is sad, I think we can assume.

He did this many times before.

He never thought it would happen to him.

The work did not have to be done live.

If this happened working on a troffer in a corporate office, I'd agree. But streetlights are worked on live all the time, and it's pretty common to trick the photocells to ensure the repair/replacement will work come nightfall. Do you think you can kill power to work on a traffic signal? You cannot, no matter what OSHA says.

Outside work is nothing like inside work. There are no panels, no disconnects, and practically everything around you is grounded.

There are many electricians who don't work in common everyday situations. In subways, even the police can't get a shutdown, think an electrician is going to get a station closed so platform lighting can be refitted? Ain't happening.

Rules (don't work live) are written to be simple, easily parrotted, and one-size-fit-all. Reality is an entirely different animal outside of the ideallic cubicle of the corporate genius who conceived them.

 

[iwire]

Lawn .... so what your saying is repairing street lights is worth dying for?

There is always a way to do the work safely. If you want to believe there was no safe way for this person to do the work so be it.

 

[iaov]

It always saddens me to hear of one in my profession being killed. It also reminds me to never ever be complacent around electricity. I wonder if he was wearing gloves. (Lab tested and certified)

 

[tonyou812]

Lawn .... so what your saying is repairing street lights is worth dying for?

There is always a way to do the work safely. If you want to believe there was no safe way for this person to do the work so be it.

I agree you have to wonder why they didnt turn it off.

 

[ItsHot]

disconnects

disconnects

I have often wondered why the code does not require disconnect for street lamps? Should be one at every lamp!

 

[buck33k]

I have often wondered why the code does not require disconnect for street lamps? Should be one at every lamp!

I do'nt work on alot of street lights, but it seems to me there are usually fuses accessible in the base. The ones I've installed have a rubber holder designed so that when separated, the fuse remains in the load side. I do'nt know if all street lights are wired like this.

 

[Buck Parrish]

Was this one of those lights that come down on cable to change the bulb.

 

[chris kennedy]

You can do it.

 

[quogueelectric]

These lights should not have been on at this time of day this probably contributed to the electrocution. The element of surprise.

 

[Buck Parrish]

It's my understanding that each light was controlled by an individual photocell. We have all done it, change the bulb, cover the photocell and see if it comes on.

 

[jrannis]

You might be suprised to know that in Florida, you do not have to be an electrician or have any formal training or any kind of license to perform this type of maintenance work. Too bad this guy didn't have proper PPE equipment or training.
I feel real sorry for him and his family that he died while trying to make a living in our trade.
I drive past that light pole almost every day.

 

[76nemo]

These lights should not have been on at this time of day this probably contributed to the electrocution. The element of surprise.

With thee UTMOST respect, because this really saddens me, I have to wonder why gloves and footwear were not in place. I have been forced by my own opinion to rework 277 machinery and lighting. This worker should NOT have had to buy his own PPE, and should have been supplied with the top of the line PPE including a good mat. As sad as this is, I cringe at the company who didn't enforce the proper procedure on "hot" work!!!!



UPSET and MAD

 

[iaov]

I have often wondered why the code does not require disconnect for street lamps? Should be one at every lamp!

Did a Walmart parking lot this fall and the only disconnects were the wire nuts in the hand holes. I don't know about you guys but pulling apart 480 connections in a lamp post is not my idea of a good system. Code requires disconnects in ballasted fixtures now but there are millions of lights out there like the one that killed that poor guy in Fla.