Title: Analysis of a fatal electrical accident due to the contact of an overhead line conductor with a guy wire

Authors: Despoina D. Dimitriadou; Constantinos D. Halevidis; Aikaterini D. Polykrati; Perikles D. Bourkas

Addresses: Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechneiou str., Polytechneioupoli Zografou, Athens, Greece ' Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechneiou str., Polytechneioupoli Zografou, Athens, Greece ' Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechneiou str., Polytechneioupoli Zografou, Athens, Greece ' Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechneiou str., Polytechneioupoli Zografou, Athens, Greece

Abstract: The analysis carried out in this paper refers to a non-occupational accident that occurred in Greece few years ago, in which a man suffered a fatal electric shock, when coming into contact with the metallic protective cover of an energised guy wire of a medium voltage line. From this specific analysis a new class of electrical accident is presented and investigated in which the contact between a medium voltage conductor and a guy wire (or other metallic surface) does not cause the de-energisation of the line (for a variety of reasons), and can result in an energised guy wire which presents an electrocution risk and a fire ignition risk. Proposals of technical and informational measures are made in order to prevent similar future accidents.

Keywords: power line contact; electric shock; external partial discharges; fire ignition risks; non-occupational accidents; overhead power lines; fatal accidents; electrical accidents; overhead line conductor; guy wires; electrocution risks; accident prevention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2016.076356

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2016 Vol.10 No.1, pp.87 - 97

Received: 07 Apr 2015
Accepted: 14 Mar 2016
Published online: 04 May 2016 *

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