Alert 98 – 29 Power Line Safety
WHAT HAPPENED:
While moving a rig, a forklift was being used to transport a small desanding motor. Instead of putting the forks under the frame, the forks were used to hoist the motor using a sling attached to the top of the motor frame. This put the forks in a high position. As the forklift moved across location, the forks snagged a power line. This broke the power line support pole, and the energized line fell across the forklift. The forklift operator was able to jump clear before the power line contacted the forklift. He was not injured, although this could have been a fatal incident.