Deaths Due to Missing or Discontinuous Path to Ground
Ground Wire Not Attached
A fan connected to a 120-volt electrical system via an extension cord provided ventilation for a worker performing a
chipping operation from an aluminum stepladder. The insulation on the extension cord was cut through and
exposed bare, energized conductors which made contact with the ladder. The ground wire was not attached on the
male end of the cord's plug. When the energized conductor made contact with the ladder, the path to ground
included the worker's body, resulting in death.
Adapter For 3-Prong Cord Not Grounded To Outlet
On May 27, 1986, two workers were using a 110-volt auger to install tie-down rods for a manufactured home. The
auger has a one-quarter horsepower motor encased in a metal housing with two handles. One handle has a
deadman's switch. Electricity to the auger was supplied by a series of 50-foot extension cords running to an
adjacent property. Since the outlet at the adjacent property had no socket for a ground prong, the extension cords were
plugged into the outlet using an adapter, but the ground wire of the adapter was not grounded. Two of the
extension cords had no ground prongs, and some of them were repaired with electrical tape. The workers had removed
their shirts and were sweating. One worker, holding the deadman's switch, received a shock from a ground
fault in the auger and was knocked back from the machine. The auger then fell across the other worker, the
24-year-old victim. The first worker knocked the auger off the victim, but saw that the electric cord was wrapped
around the victim's thigh. He yelled for his co-workers to disconnect the power, which they did. The workers
administered CPR to the victim, but to no avail.
Short In Power Saw/Ungrounded Temporary Power Supply
On July 10, 1986, a 22-year-old carpenter was working at the construction site of large apartment complex, using a
portable electric saw to construct the wooden framework of a laundry building. Electricity to operate
portable power tools was supplied by a temporary service pole 50 feet away. The pole had not been inspected by the
city and was not in compliance with code requirements (it was not grounded). The victim used two extension cords
to supply power: a home-made cord plugged into an ungrounded receptacle on the pole, and a UL-approved cord extending
from the homemade cord to the saw. The accident site was wet; also, humidity was high and the victim was
sweating. Reportedly, he was shocked throughout the morning, and he had replaced one of the extension cords
in an effort to eliminate the shocks. The source of the shocks -- the saw -- was not replaced. As the
victim climbed down a makeshift ladder, he shifted the saw from his right hand to his left, and was shocked. This
caused him to fall from the ladder and land in a puddle of water, still holding the saw. Apparently, his
hand contracted and he was "locked" to the saw. A co-worker disconnected the power cord to the saw, too
late to save the victim.
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