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The man came into contact with an electrode he was using to replace a plate on a tower on Sept. 17. He died at the scene.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 24, 2002
ZEPHYRHILLS -- A welder was electrocuted at a rock quarry in September when he touched a hot electrode, a government investigation concluded.
Leon R. Davison of Zephyrhills was working on a 20-foot-high metal screen at Plaza Materials on Sept. 17 when his co-workers saw sparks fly and heard him call out.
Two co-workers found Davison, 43, lying on his back with the welding equipment against his chest. Davison had a faint pulse at first, but it faded and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which investigated the accident, Davison came into contact with the electrode he was using to replace a plate on a tower. An electrode uses electricity to produce heat for welding.
Davison, who had 22 years of welding experience, was wearing damp clothing, either from sweat or an earlier rain storm.
The damp clothes might have further endangered him, according to Harry Verdier, district manager with Mine Safety.
"What the company should do is require the people to have dry clothing and something to insulate if they're lying on metal," Verdier said.
Plaza Materials, on Yonkers Boulevard south of Chancey Road, declined to comment Monday.
The company was not cited for any safety violations in Davison's death.
-- Molly Moorhead covers the city of Zephyrhills. She can be reached at (352) 521-5757 or toll free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 29. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com