While installing a new transformer in Balmorhea, Line Crew Leader Richard Granado and his crew encountered an unexpected hazard beneath a padmount: a rattlesnake nearly 4 feet long. The crew quickly alerted one another, paused work, and safely relocated the snake away from the job site so the project could continue without risk.
Granado said the experience was a reminder to always expect the unexpected, especially when opening equipment that has sat in place for years. He noted that padmounts and junction boxes can conceal other hazards as well, including black widow spiders.
His message is simple: open with caution, think before acting, and stay alert to hidden dangers.