NB Power accident under investigation
Last Updated: Apr 21 2005 09:44 AM ADT
FREDERICTON - NB Power and the Workplace, Health, Safety and Compensation Commission are investigating an electrical accident this week in the Miramichi area.
An NB Power transmission station – even getting close can be fatal
An NB Power transmission station – even getting close can be fatal
A line worker for the power company was seriously injured. He's in critical, but stable condition at a hospital in Halifax.
The accident happened Tuesday afternoon near Nelson, on the high power transmission line between Miramichi and Moncton.
Stephen Hayes, president of the union that represents 2,300 NB Power workers, said he can't discuss the details of the incident because of the investigation.
But he said you don't even have to touch a high power line to get an electrical shock – being close is enough.
"The energized voltage would strike out at him if he got inside those limits of approach without the proper safety equipment or insulating material."
Hayes said in the early days of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, one out of every three lineman was killed on the job.
He said incidents like the one this week serve as a reminder of the dangers of high voltage.
"It brings up a lot of memories of the older workers … it puts a new fear into the people that are on the lines today that this could possibly happen to them and their families.
Hayes says a union member at NB Power hasn't been killed on the job since 1992.
Copyright © 2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment