mm wrote:
On Fri, 12 May 2006 11:06:56 -0400, Phil Munro
wrote:

RicodJour wrote:
mm wrote:

It took until Wednesday for someone to say how the girl was killed
last Friday in Baltimore.

It seems that the fence she was touching went in AFTER the power line
beneath it. The power line went to a light pole maybe 50 feet away
used to illuminate the softball field.

The fence was not the backstop, iiuc, but a 3 1/2 foot tall chain link
fence near the backstop. There was a cement footing for the pole, but
the pole extended about a quarter inch below the cement, and rested on
the cable. Eventually, it wore through the insulation and touched the
hot wire.
For a 3.5' tall fence post, the post hole was probably dug about 1.5' -
2' deep. Not that deep at all. Considering the bottom of the post
miraculously stopped just at the cable, it's very possible that the guy
digging it, knew he hit the cable, was thankful he didn't die, and
figured that the concrete would cover the top of the cable and prevent
the post from touching the cable itself. Of course the cable being the
limiting factor in the hole depth would mean that the post would not be
set at the same height as the rest - assuming the guy was relatively
careful about setting his posts. I'd check the top of all of the
poles to see if that particular pole was noticeably higher than the
rest, or to see if it had been cut (a cut in the field would look
different than a factory cut post end).

R

I think it is pretty much standard practice with chain-link fences to
place the poles, let the concrete set, and THEN trim them to the right
height. I wonder if anyone is checking to find out who actually put
that fence in.

They said that no one remembered, but I'll bet the paperwork is still
around, and they'll find out who the contractor was. If the City of
Baltimore did stuff like this, they'll be liable, I think.

I think it is unlikely that there was any detailed
map of location -- unless it was put in by the power company. --Phil

The power company was already out there on Saturday saying it was on
the far side of the meter, and not their fault. Does the power
company ever install things, for a separate fee, on the far side of
the meter.



No. The power company employs outside wiremen that work under the
National Electrical Safety Code. That is the code which, when adopted
by the state public utility regulating body, governs high voltage
generation and distribution. Once they get the electricity to the
customers wiring there work is done. The wiring beyond the demarcation
point is done by Inside Wiremen that are more commonly called
Electricians. That work is governed by the state and local laws that
adopt the National Electric Code by reference. When the power company
wants wiring done in their own office they hire an electrical contractor
that employs electricians because their own outside wiremen do not do
that work.
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison