It was sad to read about another work-related fatality when a Kootenai Electric Cooperative lineman was electrocuted Tuesday ("Electric lineman killed setting pole," Oct. 24). Almost as disheartening was the way this tragedy was dismissed by the management as the "nature of the business." First, I couldn't agree more with General Manager Robert Crump as his thoughts and prayers go out to the family and employees. But then he is quoted as saying, "It's dangerous work." Any industrial work is dangerous if there isn't adequate pre-job preparation through hazard identification, safe work procedures and training. If they "knew that" and the victim "knew that" then why weren't the proper precautions taken? The last sentence sent chills up my spine, where the worker Jake Booth was quoted earlier as saying, "The first day you are out climbing. They put you right out there and let you start doing it." I don't think there is any good excuse for a life to be needlessly lost, and I would bet that OSHA feels the same way. I hope the S-R continues to follow this story so we can all learn what preventative actions Kootenai Electric Cooperative is going to take to make sure that something like this never happens again.

Jack Dayley
Owner, Dayley Industrial Safety Consulting LLC

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