Urgent Safety Flash

Electrocution Death of Verizon Technician in Indiana

The electrocution death of a Verizon technician in Indiana, a member of CWA Local 4773, is being investigated by the states Occupational Safety and Health authorities, as well as by the union and company.

Brent Cheney, 35, was working on the mainframe inside the Elkhart office, trying to fix a customer's cable problem, when he died May 26. Other workers were in the office but no one was in the area with him at the time of the incident. Local 4773 President Ed Lowdenslager said it appears that Cheney was on a moveable ladder along the mainframe, holding a high-voltage meter in one hand that helps determine trouble spots in pairs of cable. The electrocution may have occurred when Cheney reached for the cord that releases the ladder's brake. Lowdenslager said the cords used to be made of nylon but are now braided metal with plastic insulation. However, parts of the insulation had worn off. After Cheney's co-workers found him and called for help, he was taken to Elkhart General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Cheney had worked for Verizon and been a Local 4773 member since August 1999. He was a former Navy Seal who loved diving and other sports. His survivors include his wife, Christine, and their 5-year-old daughter, Kaia.

The precise cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The company has not released its report to the union. The CWA is very concerned with recent electrocutions and near misses.

Besides the electrocution of Brent Cheney, this year, there have been electrocutions in California and West Virginia. The CWA Occupational Safety and Health Department, along with staff in the districts, is looking into the reasons for these near misses and electrocutions and plans to release a report in the near future.