A Penn Power worker was killed on Sunday afternoon when the bucket truck he was in overturned and he fell onto the roadway. The accident happened in the 300 block of Dutch Ridge Road in Wayne Township. Authorities reported that there were two other worked on site when the truck overturned, but neither man was injured. The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the accident.

If you are not familiar with the term “bucket truck,” a bucket truck is a truck with a boom and bucket (sometimes also referred to as a cherry picker) attached to it. These types of trucks are often used in utility businesses such as electric and phone companies allowing utility workers to access high wires and transformers

Because of the high center of gravity on bucket trucks, overturns can occur. The operators of the bucket trucks must be careful to not put too much weight in the boom of the truck and not to park the truck on a steep surface. Fifty percent of all falls are a result of being ejected from the bucket.

There are many steps that should be taken prior to using a bucket truck. Equipment inspections, ensuring work site safety, providing safety equipment such as hard hats and safety harnesses and working with safe and stable loads will help reduce tip over injuries.

If you have any questions about a bucket truck work accident, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced lawyers at 724-652-4081.