Most people have different places they can go and feel that they and their children will be safe from harm. It is likely that many would consider their backyard to be one of those places. Many parents send their children out there to play without fear of harm befalling them.

This sense of security was likely shaken for many in the Pittsburgh area after a mother died when a high voltage wire fell and hit her while she was in her backyard. In addition to receiving a shock when the 7,200 volt wire hit her, she also caught on fire. She died three days after the accident.

As many would expect, the family of the woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit the power company responsible for the power line.

The lawsuit alleged the power line fell as a result of the conductor not being cleaned with a wire brush before it was spliced and attached to the pole. They assert the failure to clean this led to a buildup of oxides. This buildup could cause the oxides to overheat which in turn could result in the line detaching from the pole or catching fire.

Instructions for the model of the splice utilized in the woman's backyard indicated this is the procedure that should be filed. Linemen for Allegheny Power reportedly said that training provided indicated a pliers or knife could be used for the cleaning instead of a wire brush.

Now, the family's attorney is asking the state Public Utility Commission to launch an investigation into the procedures communicated by FirstEnergy Corp to Allegheny Energy linemen regarding how power lines are spliced. The hope is that this sort of accident won't happen again.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "PUC asked to investigate power lines in Irwin death," Erich Schwartzel, Jan. 17, 2012