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The electrocuted worker has been identified as Jose Valdivieso, 37, of Somerville, Massachusets. |
The electrocuted worker has been identified as Jose Valdivieso, 37, of Somerville, Massachusets.
The painting company that employed the man accidentally electrocuted last week on Cannongate Road has a record of serious safety violations.
Had the contractor (Prime Touch Services) notified the utility, plastic shields could have been put on the power lines. These shields prevent transmission of energy to a ladder or other conductive device, that comes in contact with the power line. I'd guess that the contractor didn't want to pay to have the protective shields placed.
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Man Who Died After Lift Touched Live Power Line Identified as Father of 2
Written by NH1 News on November 9, 2017 10:38 am.
NASHUA, NH — A man killed after a hydraulic lift he was operating came in contact with a live power line has been identified as a 37-year-old father of two.
On Nov. 2, Jose Valdivieso, of Somerville, Massachusetts, was working for Prime Touch Services of Natick, Massachusetts, at a New Hampshire job site when the fatal accident occured.
Officials said Valdivieso was originally from El Salvador and is survived by two children.
“Jose’s death is a double tragedy – both for his family and loved ones, and because it was 100 percent preventable with proper safety precautions and training,” said Susi Nord, co-director of the N.H. Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. “2017 has been a particularly deadly year for construction workers in New Hampshire, with six out of seven work-related fatalities this year occurring in the industry.”
According to the 2017 AFL-CIO report on workplace fatalities, Latino and immigrant workers are at a higher risk of death on the job that other workers.
The fatality rate for Latino workers in the U.S. was 18 percent higher than the national average overall and increased significantly in 2015, with 903 deaths compared to 804 in the prior year. Of the 943 immigrant workers killed on the job in 2015, two out of three were Latinos, OSHA said.
Employers and construction contractors in New Hampshire are required by federal law to provide a reasonably safe workplace for all workers including proper safety training and protective equipment. They must also ensure the work environment does not prevent or discourage workers from using safe work practices.
Prime Touch Services was cited by OSHA for two serious safety violations in 2013.===========================
NASHUA, N.H. —
A worker was killed Thursday in Nashua when the hydraulic lift (a Genie telescopic boom lift) he was in touched electrical wires, officials said.
Fire crews were called to a condominium complex on Cannongate Road shortly after noon.
The victim's name has not been released.
Residents of the complex said they are still trying to come to terms with the horrifying scene.
Anna Townsend said she at first thought the emergency response was a drill.
"I thought it was a dummy. I really thought it was a dummy," she said. "Everybody was just panicking. It was just horrible. There was a woman on the second floor trying to throw water on the situation just to try and keep it under control."
Firefighters said they were called to the area for reports of a medical call, but they weren’t sure what to expect.
Power had to be cut so the crews could respond.
“When firefighters arrived, they found a construction worker up in a hydraulic lift. He had come into contact with power lines,” Nashua Deputy Fire Chief Glen MacDonald said.
“It was just terrible. It was almost like it was an exercise. You know what I mean, for traumatic things happening. And then I found out it was a real person,” Townsend said.
Fire officials and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.
“It's just really sad to have something like that happen. You get up in the morning, you go to work, you expect to go home at the end of the day and something horrible like that happens,” Townsend said.
==================NASHUA, N.H. – A construction worker in Nashua has died from his injuries after being electrocuted while using a hydraulic lift.
The Nashua Fire Department said work was being done at the Cannongate Condos when the lift came in contact with electrical wires.
Witnesses said the scene was very somber once people realized what had happened.
“I came out my side door and noticed flames looked like it was coming from the building through the trees," Walter Markewich said. “All the employees, there were about five of them, they were all crying."
The man who died was part of a painting crew that had been working at the condo buildings in recent days.
“To be really close to the power line and painting, I do think that is a real safety issue to really be that close," Jonah Simmons said.
The victim has not been identified at this point and an investigation by the State Fire Marshall and OSHA is still underway.
Jose, Valdivieso resident of Somerville, Ma. passed away on November 2nd at the age of 37. He was born in Metapan, Santa Ana, El Salvador on May 30, 1980.
Beloved father of Joseph and Jareny Valdivieso.
Dear brother of Maria Helena, Gloria, Rene, Juan Angel, Carlos, Antonio and Hector.
Also survived by many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family and friends will honor Jose’s life by gathering at Ruggiero Family Memorial Home 971 Saratoga St. East Boston on November 9th from 4:00 P.M to 8:00 P.M. A Funeral service in celebration of Jose’s life will be held on November 10th in the Vida Real International at 404 Broadway, Somerville, Ma. at 11:00 A.M.