The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-08-24
Decision in DesatA,of rIt,,... :

its decision rendeBed SSoOnani'sla
matter of the accident 0aaay y
when Earl N. Tarha,, al Plt,
came in contact with a sea ot hirl
er conductor of the c Ssv, volt
Power Company at Harmaa'ra u
instantly killed, says ths uay aud
dent emphasizes the nea a' tas 4
widespread knowledge -, ol d
pressure method of ro.u " .he pn
Mr.. Tarbell had besn
one-half years in the ON n n,l l0ar
power company as linemanp , Ny Of |
man, working out of the pi, aua rep
ilce' and he received orders ''s ,ad
district superintendent to 20 from 70 4
mony, replace a burned 81 10 n
lamp and take down a tj Uu' 81
which controlled the strs s,sie 5
circuit, so lthat the switch e' ilght1
repaired says the decision
public utilities Commission OF |
He was directed to w.i.
noon hour before doing tbi. ua'll
open the main switch control To'i
supply of power to Harmonu' y,
and also to open the ,cntsnv, Vlli
street fighting transformer Hs,. %
tempting to remove the tim o'.O's
continues the decision.
However, instead of w.,e.
the noon hour before dnp,
work, Tarbell replaced the straas
Immediately upon his arrival :.
mony and proceeded directlv :.
street lighting TRANSFORMER ~,
attempting to open the main s" WY
He climbed the transform.
opened one of the .cut.outs n,
stseet lighting transformer
around to the south side NJ ~
and prepared to disconnect tbs n
switch without opening tbe-
cut-out.' This left the time.svi'j
direct electrical connection with
side of, the 6600-volt feeder W"
"Tarbell laid his pliers and j
driver inside of the box which !
tanned the time-switch. remova,
right-hand glove in order n i
more easily and began to unvi,,l
tape from one terminal of tho ss
Burns on his hand and fash N
on the untaped terminal shows,
his right hand had made contas
the terminal as soon as the tsns
sufficiently unwound. His positol
front the switch brought him A
rect contact with a grounded n
wire, 80 that his body formed
plete electrical connection bpt]
the $500 volt line and ground
shock Threw him clear from n,
volt conductor. so that he tn
backwards and hung aby hi,
belt until his body was remors
the pole.
THE nearest doctor was Il
away at Pittsfield, but the road,
in such condition, due to frost
the doctor was two hours in COM
ing the trip. In the meanvhl]
structions were telephoned, as
might be, for applying first aid d
vive Tarbell from the shock
prone pressure method of resu
ton was applied, but no one W
had ever seen it administered bs
it was Abandoned after about Il
utes. The attending physician.
his arrival, declared Tarbell to b
yond help.
"Tarbell's orders were pert
clear and definite. If the main
switch had been opened as dire
or even if both cut outs, insted
only one, on the TRANSFORMED
been opened. the work could
been accomplished in absolute s.
The opening of the switch in
tion to the cut-outs, provided a d
safeguard.
1.-THE accident was directly u
Tarbell's failure to open both cut
on the street lighting transforma
fore attempting to remove the
switch, and indirectly to his fall1
obey explicit instructions.
This accident emphasizes The
of a more widespread knOwla
the prone pressure method Of
citation. Whereas a pulm0tor
hands of a skilled operator
have been instrumental in Ta
the victim. it is evident that ma
ical appliances of this sort cam
universally available, and that
valuable time may be lost in
such apparatus to the scene
accident.
I'm the case of an electrical
dent the difference of few ma
in starting artificial respiratlOi
mean life or death to the yictln
prone pressure method OF res
ton is fully as effective as the
tor and has the further advan'a
requiring no apparatus whale'
"As a matter of fact, it requf
tie beyond a certain amount OIL
ligence on the part OF the Ope
1t should be applied as soon a.
sible after the occurrence Oh
cident, and kept up contlhuaH'
the arrival of a physician even
suits are not immediately n@.
Cases are on record wherein
plication of the prone pressure
cd continuously for four I"
hours resulted in the reVNms
man who appeared to be aeda
work was started on him.
FIeteher.Pat Reunls