forklift hits powerlines

[turboawd]

NOT SAFE FOR WORK

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ccc_1252795333

[93turbo]

I wonder why they thought the tires were on fire when they appear to be the only thing not burnt?

[Gravel Rat]

The guy burnt alive.

I guess he was never taught " Look Up and Live "

For myself it is a force of habit too look for wires when your working dump trucks and crane trucks etc.

[bobcat_ron]

What a idiot, he must have been a rookie, no reason to ever have the boom that high.

[93turbo]

I seriously doubt he burnt alive

[WillieWonka1850]

I seriously doubt he burnt alive
It says he touched the ground he made contact and he was electrocuted and killed right there.

[bobcat_ron]

His eyes popped out of his head by the looks of the pic, the 2 white things hanging out.

[mowerkid01]

This thread will give me nightmares, I'm sure of it!

[44DCNF]

I seriously doubt he burnt alive

It says he touched the ground he made contact and he was electrocuted and killed right there.

That's what electrocution is, isn't it? Being burned alive from the inside out, as well as at the points of entry and exit? You've heard the term "fry in the electric chair".

[PROCUT1]

Took me a minute to realize what was in those pics.

[WillieWonka1850]

Took me a minute to realize what was in those pics.
I just realized myself

Oh mother of god...

[YellowDogSVC]

It doesn't hurt to double check above and below grade for electric, gas, and other utilities. Take your time and if the lines seem close, back up! You would be surprised at how many people want me to chip under power lines with a chipper that has a 20' loader! NOPE! Warnings all over the machine about electrical lines. i will work near them, but under my own terms and only after a double check and scenario run through my brain on what could happen should I pick up a tree that makes my loader even longer. those pictures are graphic indeed but maybe it will save a life or two.

[WillieWonka1850]

I just got an even better look and then I could REALLY start to see the guy.

Oh my dear lord....
I don't even know what to say...

[DeereMan85]

Looks fake to me. Notice how the story mentions that this is a company that makes movie sets and assists in movie production? Then look at the boom, doesn't the dark area look suspiciously like spray paint? And if the fire was hot enough to burn every fiber of upholstery and cushioning off the the seat and the plastic off the steering wheel, you can bet the tires and hydraulic lines wouldn't have survived either. This looks like something from a scene in a bad horror film, and I think it probably is.

[MarcSmith]

first off, if his skin was burned to the skull and his ribs exposed, do you really think that a couple blobs of mostly water (eyeballs) would have survived...

Second. just goes to show that you cannot fix stupid. The guy got lazy, which almost always results in being careless.

also have to remember that hydraulic lines are pretty high pressure which means that are steel braided. so the out rubber sheath could have burned leaving the steel casing behind.

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=10866316

[Craaaig]

fake or not that's pretty morbid

[Nelson M Martin]

Why would the boom stay in up position if the guts was burned out of the machine? Hydraulic lines etc!!!!:rolleyes:
Unpleasant accident reminder :nono:

[bobcat_ron]

Why would the boom stay in up position if the guts was burned out of the machine? Hydraulic lines etc!!!!:rolleyes:
Unpleasant accident reminder :nono:

These "zoom booms" have check valves in them to prevent the boom from drifting down in the event of hydraulic failure or engine problems, some of them use hydraulic pressure to release the pressure from the boom cylinders.
Those cherry picker man lifts also use a check valve, that's why they are able to stay all the way up over night or over the weekend.

[Scag48]

Touching power will not cause a machine to burst into flames. Contact with overhead lines is a split second deal, you touch, the power runs through the machine and to the ground through the tires, makes a lot of noise and then the lines will eventually blow a breaker and become de-energized. If there was enough heat transfer to reach the flashpoint of diesel, then maybe, but I highly doubt that.

On top of all that, even if the dude actualy was killed, you can bet that there wouldn't be pictures of the accident on the internet.

[bobcat_ron]

Touching power will not cause a machine to burst into flames. Contact with overhead lines is a split second deal, you touch, the power runs through the machine and to the ground through the tires, makes a lot of noise and then the lines will eventually blow a breaker and become de-energized. If there was enough heat transfer to reach the flashpoint of diesel, then maybe, but I highly doubt that.

On top of all that, even if the dude actualy was killed, you can bet that there wouldn't be pictures of the accident on the internet.

Remember the piranhas and the dead dude laying on the morgue table?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/7573872/Piranhas

[WillieWonka1850]

Remember the piranhas and the dead dude laying on the morgue table?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/7573872/Piranhas
Dear god!

God, think of what could be going through your mind while being attacked by all them piranhas. I mean just think how helpless you would've been. That is horrible.

Looks like he also attracted a catfish too (anything with blood, catfish love it)

[Canon Landscaping]

Touching power will not cause a machine to burst into flames. Contact with overhead lines is a split second deal, you touch, the power runs through the machine and to the ground through the tires, makes a lot of noise and then the lines will eventually blow a breaker and become de-energized. If there was enough heat transfer to reach the flashpoint of diesel, then maybe, but I highly doubt that.

On top of all that, even if the dude actualy was killed, you can bet that there wouldn't be pictures of the accident on the internet.

Here is the link to the local news channel in nashville the guy was killed the pics are real some emergency personnel must of snapped the pics and put them up on the web.

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=10866316

[coopers]

Here is the link to the local news channel in nashville the guy was killed the pics are real some emergency personnel must of snapped the pics and put them up on the web.

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=10866316

Someone is losing their job!

[93turbo]

Touching power will not cause a machine to burst into flames. Contact with overhead lines is a split second deal, you touch, the power runs through the machine and to the ground through the tires, makes a lot of noise and then the lines will eventually blow a breaker and become de-energized. If there was enough heat transfer to reach the flashpoint of diesel, then maybe, but I highly doubt that.

On top of all that, even if the dude actualy was killed, you can bet that there wouldn't be pictures of the accident on the internet.

I've seen a dump truck hit power lines and it blowed out all 8 tires on the back which was enough clearence to lose contact with the lines so weather it would blow a breaker or not I dunno but if it didn't I would say it could get hot enough to start a fire.

[YellowDogSVC]

Remember the piranhas and the dead dude laying on the morgue table?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/7573872/Piranhas

yeah, that one bothered me for awhile. Down here, it's fire ants I worry about. Ever see them take apart a gecko?

[YellowDogSVC]

Here is the link to the local news channel in nashville the guy was killed the pics are real some emergency personnel must of snapped the pics and put them up on the web.

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=10866316

which, in my opinion, is irresponsible. I was an EMT for 6 years. I would have never taken pictures like that on a scene for exploitation. We all want to look but there should be some respect at such a horrific scene.

[MarcSmith]

which, in my opinion, is irresponsible. I was an EMT for 6 years. I would have never taken pictures like that on a scene for exploitation. We all want to look but there should be some respect at such a horrific scene.

running a high reach into power lines is irresponsible. publishing details of the incident (yes even the gruesome photos) such that other may learn and not repeat this act a stupidity, is a good thing.

From having operating such thing up to and including a 120' high reach there are probably a couple dozen warning decals telling you that its dangerous to operate near power lines, and in violation of some local laws.

Oh and we don't know who took the photos so no need to jump to the conclusion that it was emergency personnel

[lawnman456]

the difference of potential electricity is what killed him. This means when he hit the power line he is energized with the power line. when he lift the forklift, he made a path to ground and all the electricity flow through his body. if he stayed in the cab he would be still alive. electricity is very scary and it does some amazing things but could kill you in one second.

btw i am a lineman

[MarcSmith]

if he had jumped from the cab, IE not touched both the machine and ground at the same time.... would he have lived. assuming of course that there was not high enough current to arc while he was jumping???

[Gravel Rat]

If he didn't jump he would be still alive.

I know people that work for BC Hydro said if your in a area where a powerline is down and its live you either shuffle your feet (safest) or jump with both feet together and at the same time.

When electricity hits the ground it radiates out in rings like throwing a rock in the water. Say you have one foot on one ripple and the other ripple you will get shocked. If you shuffle your feet there is less chance of arc'ing.

Now with that guy with the forklift if he could have dropped the boom it would have stopped the arc.

[Gravel Rat]

I think the power company has some explaining to do. I looked at the pictures again the forklift only hit one wire (single phase) why didn't the breaker trip. The breakers here don't take much most of the time and they will trip if a heavy tree branch falls on it.

Now if the forklift hit all 3 wires you could see some damage.

For one the dumpster company should be blamed why did they drop a bin right under powerlines.

I still can't see how that forklift can burn up like that. If there was that much juice the forlift fork would have burn't that wire off with it arc'ing.

[MarcSmith]

Now with that guy with the forklift if he could have dropped the boom it would have stopped the arc. not if the juice killed the engine/computer. or the operator panicked saw that he had touched the wires and then shut the machine down and got out...

being that the machine was on big rubber tires. it was not grounded. like a bird landing on the wire... maybe the machine did not burn until the operator stepped off and grounded the machine...

Also some breakers if I'm not mistaken can reset themselves...

[talus]

not if the juice killed the engine/computer. or the operator panicked saw that he had touched the wires and then shut the machine down and got out...

being that the machine was on big rubber tires. it was not grounded. like a bird landing on the wire... maybe the machine did not burn until the operator stepped off and grounded the machine...

Also some breakers if I'm not mistaken can reset themselves...

Yes you are correct. A circut can reset itself. If they circuit was on a recloser he may have been zapped a few times before it tripped.

[talus]

the difference of potential electricity is what killed him. This means when he hit the power line he is energized with the power line. when he lift the forklift, he made a path to ground and all the electricity flow through his body. if he stayed in the cab he would be still alive. electricity is very scary and it does some amazing things but could kill you in one second.

btw i am a lineman

You are correct in the difference of potential. That is what killed him. That boom is not insulated. He didn't stand a chance. If there was no difference in potential why did the machine burn? A bird can sit on a phase all day and not burn. If the bird opens his wings and cross phases or grounds out he is fried= difference of potential.


BTW I'm a lineman also.

[talus]

If he didn't jump he would be still alive.

I know people that work for BC Hydro said if your in a area where a powerline is down and its live you either shuffle your feet (safest) or jump with both feet together and at the same time.

When electricity hits the ground it radiates out in rings like throwing a rock in the water. Say you have one foot on one ripple and the other ripple you will get shocked. If you shuffle your feet there is less chance of arc'ing.

Now with that guy with the forklift if he could have dropped the boom it would have stopped the arc.


This is the proper procedure if you are trapped and it is your ONLY option.

[Junior M]

You are correct in the difference of potential. That is what killed him. That boom is not insulated. He didn't stand a chance. If there was no difference in potential why did the machine burn? A bird can sit on a phase all day and not burn. If the bird opens his wings and cross phases or grounds out he is fried= difference of potential.


BTW I'm a lineman also.
Ok, so I understand this whole why he was electrocuted(Dad is a journeyman Electrician on the substation crew, he has explained alot of things) thing but what could have he done instead of jumping out of the cab that obviously killed him..

[talus]

Ok, so I understand this whole why he was electrocuted(Dad is a journeyman Electrician on the substation crew, he has explained alot of things) thing but what could have he done instead of jumping out of the cab that obviously killed him..

The procedure that Gravel Rat said MAY have saved him.

[MarcSmith]

the only sure way was to wait for help....unless the machine was on fire and you have no other choice burn alive from the outside or cook from the inside..

IF I had no other options, and If I was thinking rationally. I would have tried to get on on of the front tire and jumped from there making sure not to touch the ground and the machine at the same time. My thinking that the tires are still insulated and it gets me further from the metal of the machine...

IMO much rather to be killed by trying to survive rather than just cooking alive...

[talus]

Yes I agree waiting for help is always the best choice if possible. I think he still may have been geeting whacked with current. We were told that tire realy don't insulate like people think they do. Especially radial tires that have steel in them. I have no idea if tires like that are radial or bias ply. On a rainy night with the rain dripping down my arms even with rubber gloves and sleeves on I can see electrical current following the rain and when it hits my shoulders and back if fells like I'm being stung by bee's. Thats only on 12kv. The insulators on the pole look bigger than 12 kv. Those would be 22kv arounde here atleast.

[YellowDogSVC]

Oh and we don't know who took the photos so no need to jump to the conclusion that it was emergency personnel

it's fairly obvious that someone who worked the scene took the pictures or allowed them to be taken or leaked them to the media or the web.

[MarcSmith]

ever heard of stringers....people that listen to scanners and race like made to accident scenes so that they can scoop the major news orgs and sell pics video...

No law about taking pictures of something that's in plain view...

[YellowDogSVC]

ever heard of stringers....people that listen to scanners and race like made to accident scenes so that they can scoop the major news orgs and sell pics video...

No law about taking pictures of something that's in plain view...

yep. Heard of those losers. Even had some in the way. Quick with a camera, almost never helpful when someone is in need. No regard for privacy or respect for dead. We're not talking about laws. And from my experience, there are way too many first responders with cameras.. I'm not opposed to pictures being taken for educational purposes but we almost always had faces blurred out to protect families, friends, etc. just in case it got out.

[MarcSmith]

never said I liked em...or agreed with the practice, but people want to see blood on TV now a days...

in all honesty...there was no face to blur out...and the name was released...

is it in bad taste, IMO...Yup...

[YellowDogSVC]

never said I liked em...or agreed with the practice, but people want to see blood on TV now a days...

in all honesty...there was no face to blur out...and the name was released...

is it in bad taste, IMO...Yup...

i'm like everyone else. I want to "see it". I just think when things are local or a name is released with photo of a regular joe, it is in bad taste. I guess I just get offended by photographers.. ;) I have seen too much privacy invaded from lens hounds.

BUT, the story is good because I'm sure everyone on here double checked what their machinery, trucks, tools, and pole saws were under, near, or over.

[MarcSmith]

I have seen too much privacy invaded from lens hounds.

that the price we pay for being "connected"

all info all the time...good and bad....