A landscaper died Tuesday evening after being electrocuted while working on a tree in Dania Beach, according to officials. The incident happened just before 5:30 p.m. in the 4500 block of Southwest 32nd Avenue, just north of Griffin Road. Emergency crews pronounced the worker dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the worker's name or age.
What Officials Say
Video from Sky 10 showed the worker on a ladder beside a tall palm tree that appeared to be in contact with an overhead power line, with Broward Sheriff's Office deputies and fire-rescue crews gathered below, as reported by Local 10. The station reported that the emergency call came in just before 5:30 p.m. and that responders quickly cordoned off the block. Local 10 also noted that authorities had not released additional details about the victim.
Police Account
Police told CBS Miami that the man was doing landscaping work when he was electrocuted by a nearby wire. The brief report from the station did not identify the worker.
Tree-Trimming Risks
Contact with overhead power lines is a leading hazard for tree-care workers, and federal guidance calls for specially trained crews to handle vegetation within about 10 feet of conductors, according to OSHA. Florida Power & Light similarly warns residents and landscapers never to trim trees near power lines and recommends using utility-qualified line-clearing crews for branches that could reach electrical equipment, per Florida Power & Light. Officials and safety experts caution that metal ladders and tools can conduct electricity and make tree work deadly if they come into contact with energized lines.
The Broward Sheriff's Office has not released further information, and the investigation is ongoing. This story will be updated as officials provide more details.
