Verizon Technician Electrocuted Working on Elevated Lines in Brooklyn

Local 1109 Mourns Loving Friend, Father With 'Infectious Smile'

CWA Local 1109 member Doug Lalima with his family. The Verizon technician was electrocuted while working on elevated lines in Brooklyn on Sept. 14.

Doug Lalima, a beloved CWA Local 1109 member and father of four, died last week after coming in contact with power lines while working on elevated Verizon cables.

Lalima, 37, was inside his truck's raised bucket when witnesses heard a "pop" and saw fire. The Sept. 14 accident is under investigation by CWA, Verizon and OSHA.

Lalima had been a Verizon lineman for 15 years. In a tribute online, Local 1109 said, "Doug was an extremely hard worker and a great friend to those who were lucky enough to know him. Doug had an infectious smile and his co-workers loved working with him. They said it best when they told us 'When you were teamed up with Doug you knew it was going to be a great day. It didn't feel like work when you were with him. The day would go by so fast.'"

Lalima leaves his wife, Vienna, and four daughters, Victoria, 12, Olivia, 10, Sophia, 6, and Julia, 3. "Doug cherished every day with his family and couldn't wait to get home to them. He always had a smile on his face when talking about them," the local said in its tribute.

Friends and coworkers have established a fund for Lalima's children, and have set up a Facebook page for donations.

Electrical hazards have been a major concern of CWA's Occupational Safety and Health Department, which has held workshops for and met with employers to work together to reduce risks. Over eight months in 2006-07, four Verizon technicians, two from CWA and two IBEW, were electrocuted. An AT&T technician represented by CWA in Detroit was electrocuted in 2010.