When workers are electrocuted at worksites it’s often because metal objects they are holding touch overhead electrical lines. But a recent fatality in Burlington, ON, occurred as a result of a hazard that could not be seen.

The victim, an employee of an environmental company removing soil from a site, was holding onto a chain that was attached to an excavator and a metal disposal bin. The bin was dragged over a section of ground under which an electrical cable was buried.

When the bin came in contact with the line, current passed through it and along the chain, killing the 25-year-old man. This incident shows the importance of knowing where electrical cables are buried and ensuring that electricity is shut off before site work begins.