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| Burroughs,Patterson,McCoys,Brown |
Mayor Kant gave citations to Electric Department employees Doug Brown and Ben Patterson, as well as Public Works' Greg Burroughs for saving electrician Greg McCoy after he was electrocuted last week while working on a high voltage line on Morphy Ave.
Kant said the assistance given that day, "saving the life of a fellow employee, avoided a catastrophe" and presented each a certificate of commendation on behalf of the city for "their acts of heroism."
McCOY SAYS HE'LL BE BACK TO WORK
McCoy approached the podium with difficulty and told the Council he intended to return to work.
McCoy: "... just want to say ... these guys are my heroes. It will take a little time ... but I will be back."
He thanked his wife Cheryl as well.
SLIGH CREDITS TEAMWORK/TRAINING
Electric Department Superintendent Scot Sligh: "That day the worst happened, Greg came into contact with 12,470 volts of electricity but, at the same time, the best came out: these three were at their best."
Sligh also credited teamwork with the police and fire departments, who arranged for a medivac helicopter from the nearby Faulkner College campus.
"A whole lot of city employees ... did the right thing that day."
Sligh said because McCoy was wearing the required safety equipment (fire retardant clothing and safety glasses) and a correctly calibrated circuit breaker tripped instantaneously -- a worse injury was prevented.
"An example of things done right ,,, Greg got hurt through no fault of his own."
CAUSE UNDER INVESTIGATION
Sligh said later that the accident doesn't fall under OSHA guidelines (municipalities are exempted) so no Federal-level investigation is required; he expected the city's insurance carrier to do their own investigation. The Electric Department is still "dissecting" the "bizarre" accident internally as well.
McCoy and Brown had just finished working on the power line from their bucket truck and were on their way down when the wire braces broke, causing the high voltage line to fall upon McCoy.
Sligh said he has no idea why the braces broke, but "they were made of wood and most likely installed in the 1970s, or earlier." He noted there are "many thousands" of such wooden braces still installed today, locally and nationally.
Sligh's Full Remarks:
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