Experiment Kills Worker, Injures Teacher

[Rhino]

Utility Worker Killed, Teacher Hurt During Egg Drop Experiment at Washington School

Friday, June 01, 2007

OTHELLO, Wash. — A utility truck's elevated bucket collapsed during a school demonstration, killing a utility company employee and injuring a teacher as about 600 children watched, authorities said.

The pair had been lifted 20 to 30 feet in the air Thursday when the boom separated from its base and fell, Police Chief Steve Dunnagan said. They were thrown from the bucket when it hit the ground outside Hiawatha Elementary School in this central Washington town.....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276964,00.html

[DeclinetoState]

I take it the experiment was unsuccessful, no?

[DoctorDoom]

Since the story gave no specifics, I see three possibilities: poor equipment maintenance; the load capacity of the bucket was exceeded; or the equipment was being used in an unsafe manner, e.g., being extended too far horizontally.

The event will have to be thoroughly investigated before a determination can be made, but having used bucket trucks as an industrial electrician, I clearly recall the rules and regs covering them. Abusing them is dangerous.