In yet another tragic death involving a worker of the electricity department, a lineman was electrocuted while he had climbed up a pole to undertake repair work at Bicholim on Friday morning. Enraged villagers slammed the electricity department for the death. The alarming number of deaths of linemen in Goa for the last five years has put the spotlight on safety of linemen. It is reported that five linemen have met tragic deaths due to electrocution in the year 2023. The year 2018 and 2019 saw one case each while in 2022 three line helpers were electrocuted.
Besides electrocution of linesmen having fatal consequences, such incidents can also result in shock injury which can be disabling and life-altering. Being in regular contact with high-voltage wiring is one of the biggest dangers power linemen face. When high-voltage power lines are cut or otherwise damaged, they can cause workers to become electrocuted. To protect against electric shock, linemen have to mandatorily wear protective gear. This includes rubber gloves, insulated boots and protective clothing made from flame-resistant materials. Linemen also wear hard hats to protect their heads and safety glasses or face shields to protect their eyes. This kind of utility job exposes workers to all types of hazards, including risk of electrocution and falling while working from significant height. Hence the workers should be properly secured by being tied to a rope.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Department has reportedly said that the death was due to a fault of the inverter of a private establishment nearby. It is learnt that inquiry revealed that 220 volt power supply from the faulty inverter reached the neutral wire and, when he touched it, he died immediately. Wearing proper safety gear could have saved his life. However it is observed that in Goa linesmen work even on high-tension wires without adequate protection. It is of paramount importance to switch off the source of the electricity power to the locality where the work is being carried out. It is also a good idea to put up a sign on the main switch-board so that nobody turns the switch on even by accident. It is observed that linesmen climb an electricity pole using a ladder made of aluminum or a steel ladder. Aluminium is yet another metal known for its high conductivity of electricity. A bamboo, wooden or fibreglass ladder needs to be used instead.
