Accident in Ma.

[loodvig]

A repairman for Verizon Communications Inc. was electrocuted Sunday morning while fixing a damaged telephone pole in Sharon, a company official said.

Steve Buckman, who had worked for Verizon for 25 years, was among a crew fixing a pole that was damaged in an earlier auto accident.

"He somehow came in contact with a power line," company spokesman John Bonomo said.

The fire department responded to a report of the worker shocked at about 8:30 a.m. Buckman was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

It wasn't immediately known if Buckman was on the pole or on the ground when he was electrocuted, Bonomo said.

Buckman, whose age was not immediately known, worked out of Verizon's Foxborough garage. His job title was outside-plant technician.

Sharon police and Verizon are investigating. No other injuries were reported.

Man, this is turning out to be a terrible year so far, may all our thoughts be with his family, friends and co-workers.

[loodvig]

A Verizon lineman was electrocuted in Sharon yesterday morning when a live wire came in contact with his bucket truck, authorities said.

The fatal accident occurred on South Walpole Street shortly before 8:30 a.m. Stephen J. Buckman, 44, of Hyde Park was killed apparently while helping to replace a telephone poll that had been struck by a car seven hours earlier.

“We are investigating the matter at this time,” said Richard Colon, a spokesman for Verizon. “We are cooperating with the state police and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).”

Family of Buckman declined to comment yesterday.

A Sharon police officer working a detail at the site helped Buckman’s co-workers perform CPR until he could be transported to Norwood Hospital. Police referred questions to the Sharon Fire Department, which issued a statement from Capt. John McLean. “Upon arrival for the electrocution, we found a male patient on the ground in cardiac arrest,” McLean’s statement read.

[BigClive]

Originally Posted by loodvig

A Sharon police officer working a detail at the site helped Buckman’s co-workers perform CPR until he could be transported to Norwood Hospital. Police referred questions to the Sharon Fire Department, which issued a statement from Capt. John McLean. “Upon arrival for the electrocution, we found a male patient on the ground in cardiac arrest,” McLean’s statement read.

Another reason all utility workers should have defibrillators in their trucks. Just 1000 bucks, very robust and so easy to use you can teach a kid in five minutes.

Such a shame.

[Bulldogge]

Such a shame! I wonder if this was a case of not paying attention where your boom is or if it could be another chance cutout failure?

*Loodvigs second post came from Monday's Boston Herald in case anyone wants to cut it out for some reason.

Do we have any information on how this accident happened other than they were replacing a broken pole?

[Bull Dog]

What the hell is a telephone lineworker doing around the primary. There should never be a call with primary in the area that the utility is not called out before the telephone co. More details might help me understand how this could happen thanks.

[old lineman]

Originally Posted by Bull Dog

What the hell is a telephone lineworker doing around the primary. There should never be a call with primary in the area that the utility is not called out before the telephone co. More details might help me understand how this could happen thanks.

Amen.
The Old Lineman

[Bulldogge]

This is what I heard from an NSTAR employee that was there......take it or leave.

The phone lineman was up in the bucket (Telsta) cutting the top of the pole that was hit by a car. The pole was being supported by a digger. The pole had some 4/0 secondaries and a single phase 2400 (4KV) line on top. He was trying to cut it butt heavy so they could get the other digger in there put the new pole in and brace the old top to that. When he cut the pole below the secondaries it flipped and made contact with his boom. The guys said the fuses went out in the cutouts instantly.

Now heres the scary part he said there were NINE NSTAR guys there most management, and only 4 Verizon WORKERS. They couldnt get a Verizon manager to come there for four hours. They also said that being a holiday OSHA didnt even come out to inspect.

Like I said this is all from someone in NSTAR that was there......dont really know him so cant judge his character.

Never, never ,never should a phone or cable lineman be put in such a position as he was in, a broken pole or whatever should always be stablized by power lineman first before anyone else goes near it.

Our booms are insulated, we have rubber goods, we have isolation ability, we have safety grounds and we have the training. Our stuff kills.