A current strong enough to melt a metal wrench and weld it to an electric box passed through the demolition site of the former Kaufman building. Although an employee of Earthmovers barely missed the bolt, company officials said it has happened before.

John Niebauer, the president of Earthmovers, said this is the third time Penelec told them the power was off at a demolition site when it really wasn't. Niebauer said Penelec didn't follow through twice at sites in Johnstown. When crews turned on the lights just before demolition, sparks flew. According to Niebauer, had his crew member not been wearing leather gloves this time, he would have died.

Niebauer said he doesn't think Penelec double-checks their work. He said they haven't been receptive to his concerns either, so he's taken those concerns to state officials.

Penelec officials said they followed the proper procedures, turning off the electricity to all four sources that Earthmovers requested and even checked to make sure. However, there was a fifth server in the basement that no one knew about and that was the line that delivered the current.

"Thank God we've had no catastrophes, but it's eminent. We cannot keep doing things like this. We need some assurance that the power is going to be off when we arrive at the site," said Niebauer.

Penelec said they did not know about the problems Earthmovers had before at the other sites, but they are looking into those.

Earthmovers said hopefully now that state officials are aware of the problems, they'll do something to crack down.