19/11/2025
The photos and videos circulating online of another TIELCO lineman who died while working on a distribution pole reveal exactly what repeated fatalities have already shown: a complete breakdown in the cooperative’s safety system. Fatal electric-contact events do not occur when proper engineering controls, PPE, and administrative procedures are in place.
If the line had been fully de-energized, verified at zero voltage, locked out, grounded, and protected by a disabled recloser, the worker would never have been exposed to hazardous energy. These are basic engineering controls required by IEEE and NFPA standards.
The PPE shown in the images also raises concern. High-voltage work requires dielectric-tested gloves and sleeves, arc-flash protection, voltage-rated boots, and certified hot-line tools. If these were expired, untested, or improperly rated, they provided little protection.
A fatality of this nature also signals failures in the Job Safety Analysis (JSA), live-line qualification, safety-officer oversight, and permit-to-work validation. In a functioning utility, these layered safeguards prevent exactly this type of incident.
This is not an accident. It is a predictable outcome of a collapsed safety hierarchy. A cooperative that labels itself “Triple A” should not have multiple preventable electrocution deaths.
Instead of discouraging public discussion, TIELCO should undergo an independent third-party safety audit covering engineering controls, grounding practices, recloser protocols, PPE testing, and compliance with IEEE 516 and NFPA 70E. Without structural corrective action, these preventable fatalities will continue.
CTTO: Jay Victoriano