2 Roofers Electrocuted By 7,200 Volt Power Line in Margate

Two employees of a roofing and siding company working in Margate were knocked unconscious on Wednesday when the extension ladder they were using accidentally hit a power line.

Margate, Ventnor First Responders Revived Workers

The men were working on a home when their ladder lift came into contact with a wire powering 7,200 volts.

Fire, police, and EMTs from Margate and Ventnor responded to Pacific and Coolidge Aves in Margate at about 5:30 pm Wednesday and performed CPR.

The men were taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomana before being transferred to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, where they are still recovering.

Atlantic City Electric Investigating

Atlantic City Electric issued a statement saying their primary concerns were the condition of the men involved and electrical safety.

"Our thoughts are with the individuals impacted in this event. The safelty of our customers, employees and contractors is always our top priority. We are working closely with local authorities and are continuing to investigate this matter."

 

How Dangerous is 7,200 Volts?

According to Wikipedia, 7,200 volts is 60 times higher than the electric voltage that runs through most homes' electrical outlets. For comparison purposes, electric fences in high-security areas such as military installations or prisons, are powered at 7000 to 10,000 volts.

A transformer reduces the 7,200 volts from primary wires to the 240 volts that power a home's electrical service.

Electrical shocks above 2,700 volts are often fatal, and shocks from above 11,000 volts are usually fatal. 

There hasn't been any additional update on the condition of the men involved.