BERNE — Tragedy struck in Berne early in the morning of April 19 when a Spectrum employee was fatally electrocuted while working on a power line. 

The company’s regional vice president of communications, Lara Pritchard, told The Enterprise, “This was a tragic accident with an employee who had been with us for more than 25 years. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and coworkers who worked with him every day. This is a devastating loss for everyone and he will be greatly missed.”

The company said that it is cooperating with an investigation by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, who could not be reached by The Enterprise for more information, and that its maintenance work is routinely carried out during late-night/early-morning hours to avoid service interruptions. 

Electrocution is one of the four critical workplace-hazard types listed by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with falls, struck-bys, and caught-ins/betweens. 

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, 23 line installers and repairers for telecommunications companies — who are considered non-electrical workers — were killed by electricity between 2011 and 2022. Non-electrical workers suffer 70 percent of fatal workplace electrocutions, according to the foundation.