Federal officials recommended a nearly $50,000 fine for a construction contractor for Duke Energy after one employee was fatally electrocuted and two others were injured at a Pinellas County worksite.
Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined a work crew from Primoris Services Corp., operating as Primoris T&D Services LLC, was replacing a utility pole when the pole contacted an energized overhead transmission line, fatally electrocuting a lineman and sending two other workers to the hospital. The company was hired as a construction contractor for Duke Energy when the incident occurred in August 2025.
OSHA proposed $49,650 in penalties.
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The employer also was cited with three serious violations:
Failing to ensure employees maintained the required minimum approach distance from exposed energized parts or have the transmission line deenergized
Assign a designated observer to monitor approach distances and provide warnings
Ensure the job briefing covered special precautions required when working under energized transmission lines.
The citations are being contested.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Officials recommend fining companies $50,000 for Florida electrocution death