Question

a 44-year-old lineman with 11 months on the job experience was electrocuted while working on grounded de-energized lines. he was working from a defective basket on an articulated boom aerial lift when the basket contacted energized lines which ran beneath the de-energized lines. the defective basket permitted current to pass through a drain hole cut into the body of the basket, then through the employee, and to ground via the de-energized line. what could have been done to avoid this accident? image of lineman in basket on a utility pole multiple-choice options:

• guards or barriers should have been erected as necessary to adjacent energized lines
• nothing could have prevented this type of accident
• the worker should have been instructed on how to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions and also on regulations that apply to their work environment
• a boom aerial lift wasnt the appropriate lifting device
• had an inspection or test occurred before starting work, the defect would have been noted

Explanation:

To avoid the accident, inspecting the basket (defective) before work would have revealed the flaw. Guards for energized lines, training, or using a different lift are less direct fixes for the defective basket. Inspecting the equipment (basket) is key here.

Answer:

Had an inspection or test occurred before starting work, the defect would have been noted