OSHA reviewing electrician’s death at Briarcliff office building

Federal workplace safety officials are reviewing an electrician’s death Tuesday at a Kansas City, North office building construction site.

Kansas City police identified the victim Wednesday as Johnathan Melton, 40.

A person working in a fourth-floor office suite at the Briarcliff Hilltop Office Building, 1251 N.W. Briarcliff Parkway, told police he heard a crash at about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday and heard someone cry out “I need help.”

The worker found Melton on a hallway floor, bleeding from the head and not breathing, and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to the police report.

Melton was taken to North Kansas City Hospital, where physicians confirmed his death.

A police officer reported he later followed an open door leading into a small room with opened ceiling panels and exposed wiring. There was a step ladder below a wire hanging from the ceiling and touching the floor.

The wire’s strands were separated and exposed at the ends with no insulation. Melton’s supervisor determined the wire was active. One witness told police he believed Melton may have been electrocuted, as he had a burn mark or blister on his right palm. An electrical current sensing device was found beside Melton on the floor.

A staff member from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration visited the site Tuesday, said Barb Theriot, director of OSHA’s Kansas City area office.

Melton worked for H & S Electrical of Overland Park. Investigators will be reviewing policies, procedures and training records of the companies involved in the incident, Theriot said.

“We are saddened by this incident and our prayers go out to the victim’s family,” Theriot said.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "OSHA reviewing electrician’s death at Briarcliff office building."