Author -
Submitted By -The Gates of Hell
This one, thank God, falls under "Near Miss." We had a couple of crews working a pack in Hi-line job. Changing out H-structures to single pole const. Energized 115 line next to us. Could reach the wire at the first structure with a Manitech (Steel crane) to clip. Rainy, wet, windy and fog. I had just rigged a headache ball on the winch cable with a Sherman Riley to hook the wire into. Turned around to walk away from the crane and got about 15 steps when the operator went for the wrong wire (the energized line was beside us but quite a ways below...steep mountainside) The whole world lit up. The relays at the sub didn't kick until it finally cross-phased (about 25-30 seconds later). Lit the crane up, guy wires on the ground, shot balls of fire out of the outriggers...the ground was rock and gravel, all the sub saw was load. One man went down. He was pulling a guy wire on the new structure and got caught up in step potential. The hillside was steep and muddy, we had ropes tied from a tree at the top and thrown over the side to help climb up the trail. After the fire went out and we heard "MAN DOWN!!" myself, another hand, and the foreman bailed over the side. When we got to him, he was laying on his back bleary-eyed but conscious. I felt his feet and looked at his hands. I asked him his name. Together we lifted him up and threw him on my shoulder. The three of us pushed and pulled our way up the mountainside in the driving rain and mud carrying our brother out of there, all the while telling him he was going to be okay. Young kid, early 20's...just trying out the trade. We finally got to the top and carefully removed his boots. Thank the Good Lord--no exit wounds. He was rushed to the hospital and checked out. He came out of it without a scratch. It just goes to show you ... you can never be too careful. And I don't care WHAT is going on, when a man swings his machinery near a hot phase ... no matter WHAT it is ... have a man watching. I have never seen so much fire or heard such a terrible sound. The gates of Hell opened up that day. Work safe out there. We could have lost a hell of a good man that day.