The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a utility construction contractor following a deadly electrical incident that left one worker dead and two others severely injured at a job site in Seminole, Florida.
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Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that a work crew from Primoris Services Corp., operating as Primoris T&D Services LLC, was replacing a utility pole in August 2025 when the pole made contact with an energized overhead transmission line.
The contact resulted in a fatal electrocution of a lineman and sent two additional crew members to the hospital with serious injuries.
According to federal safety officials, the incident occurred because the crew failed to maintain the proper safety distance from energized power lines while performing the pole replacement work.
OSHA investigators concluded that the company failed to ensure workers maintained the required minimum approach distance from exposed energized parts. The agency also determined the employer did not ensure that the transmission line was deenergized before work began.
Additionally, investigators found that a designated observer was not assigned to monitor the distance between workers and the energized line or to provide warnings when the crew approached dangerous proximity.
OSHA also determined that the job briefing conducted before the work began did not sufficiently address special precautions required when working beneath energized transmission lines.
As a result of these findings, OSHA issued three serious violations against the contractor.
The agency proposed $49,650 in penalties related to the violations.
However, the employer has formally contested the citations before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent federal body that reviews workplace safety enforcement cases.
Because the case is under review, OSHA noted that penalties and citations may be modified during the legal process depending on the commission’s final determination.
Working near energized power lines continues to pose one of the most significant hazards in construction and utility work. Electrical contact incidents frequently result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the extremely high voltages carried by overhead transmission systems.
Safety experts emphasize that crews performing work near power lines must follow strict protocols, including maintaining safe distances, deenergizing lines whenever possible and assigning dedicated observers to monitor potential hazards.
Federal workplace safety officials encourage employers to review OSHA guidelines and training materials related to electrical safety to help prevent similar incidents.
The agency also offers compliance assistance programs that provide employers with information on meeting federal safety standards and protecting workers from electrical hazards and other construction risks.
Originally reported by U.S. Department of Labor.
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