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States imposes $16K fine after worker's death along Alcoa Hwy

The state, after an investigation, found the company had failed to take steps to ensure worker safety during removal of some light poles.

A Nashville electric company faces a $16,275 fine in the death of an employee who was electrocuted along Alcoa Highway.

Tyler Lowe, 30, died Sept. 13 while helping to move a light pole along southbound Alcoa Highway near Maloney Road. He worked for Stansell Electric.

The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated Lowe's death. Last month it submitted a report with a settlement fine of $16,275.

The state originally recommended imposing an $18,275 fine but reduced it by $2,000 after meeting with Stansell representatives Dec. 19, records obtained by 10News show.

The state cited Stansell for several serious workplace safety violations, including failure to take proper precautionary steps to avoid exposure to nearby live electric lines.

Company principal David Stansell said in an email Wednesday the company had no comment.

Lowe was helping guide a light pole that was being removed from the site. Alcoa Highway is being expanded in a multimillion-dollar, multi-year project.

Related: State investigates worker's death

Stansell was hired to remove seven aluminum light poles in the area using a crane. Lowe and coworkers were removing the fifth pole of the day when it came in contact with a live power line, the investigation found.

Lowe collapsed on the scene.

"Employees went to the victim's side to assess the situation," the report states. "One employee went to (a nearby Knoxville Police Department officer) that was positioned for traffic control and requested emergency assistance."

CPR was performed on Lowe and he was taken by ambulance up the highway to University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The field investigation cited several problems with the job site: "The procedure for the removal of poles was not done in a safe manner and working within the minimum approach distance of the 7,620-volt power line was not calculated when removing the fifth pole. Uneven terrain where the employee was working from could have contributed to the rotation of the pole during removal."

TOSHA recommended Stansell better train employees to avoid putting workers in jeopardy in the future.

Stansell representatives including company President David Stansell met with state labor officials Dec. 19, records show. The proposed fine then was $18,275.

The company didn't want to contest the findings but argued employee misconduct played a role in the accident, records show. TOSHA officials declined to accept the argument, but after conferring decided to offer a settlement of $16,275, which a company official signed, records show.

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