The cables were mounted inside the fenced-in test area
on supports made plastic piping. about 8:45 a.
The power the experiment was controlled turning wheel leading large rheostat inside
the test area.
CAUSE DEATH
The county medical examiner determined the cause death from electrocution and fall
from height. The
usual procedure for shutting down the power was first turn the rheostat down until power
registered meter visible through the fencing. Rescue efforts succeeded in
restoring heart beat, and the victim was transported the local trauma center where was
admitted with severe head injuries. Electricity was directed the cables from
an electrical transformer that stepped the power 26,000 volts 300 amps.
.3
The cable-aging experiment was located one the larger fenced areas. and was instructed his supervisor (an engineer) remove three cable samples that
had been aging for one year.
Apparently neglecting deenergize the power, the victim climbed the ladder where could
reach the plastic supports where the cables were connected. went the victim and saw that the power was still on. The workers started
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation until the police and EMS arrived. The extension-cord interlock was then
disconnected, tripping the power relay and shutting down the power. The cable then ran out the water second support the opposite side. The victim was familiar with the experiment, had de-
energize every two weeks changed the distilled water baths. The
cables were mounted side-by-side the supports, and the ends were electrically connected in
series with short length bare copper jumper cable. He
connected bonding wire from the ladder the fence, electrically grounding the ladder. Finally, the worker would
enter the area and use pole connect grounding wire transformer terminal. The area was
then considered safe work in. As
the co-worker disconnected the power, second worker called 911 for help. this process,
samples high-voltage electrical cable were artificially “aged” placing them under an
electrical load while immersed water.m. The cable ran down into water bath, soaking the
insulation., the victim
moved foot high rolling metal ladder with handrails the fence outside the test area.m. died his injuries eight hours later. The supports were built very close the fence and reached
over the top height feet. co-
worker who was working nearby heard the victim yell “Oh God!” and saw him fall off the ladder
and land head first the floor. The victim started use wrench
to disconnect the jumper wires from the cables, contacting the live 26,000 volt circuit. The main power switch was the back wall inside the fenced test area. Attached the top the support was test cable with a
bottle distilled water fixed the end. The victim arrived for work the laboratory at
8:30 a.
The incident occurred Tuesday, June 18, 1996
